Death & Funerals

Paul Dickson, Editor of Eyes and Ears, has advised of the death on 1 January 2024 of Darryl Raymond Jenkins after a very serious illness. Darryl joined the Army in 1972 and was posted to 131 Divisional Locating Battery and worked in Artillery Intelligence. He was posted to 16th Air Defence Regiment as a Lance Bombardier in 1975 and promoted to Bombardier in 1977.

A funeral for Darryl is planned for Wednesday 10 January 2024 at the Royal Military College Duntroon Chapel. His family have extended an invitation to join them to celebrate Darryl’s life at the Queanbeyan Hotel (top Pub), 58 Crawford St, Queanbeyan, following his service.

RIP Darryl Raymond Jenkins.

Peter Bruce, OAM

Obituary Resource Officer RAAHC

I have been advised of the sad passing Michael McBride who passed away on Thursday 21^st December 2023.

His funeral is being held on the:

18^th January 2024 at 10.30 AM (NSW Time) at St. Joseph’s Merewether Catholic Church, in The Junction, Kenrick Street, Merewether, Newcastle N.S.W.

Following the service, you are all invited to his wake at THE BAR BEACH BOWLING & SPORTING CLUB, 21 Kilgour Ave, Merewether, Newcastle NSW.

LEST WE FORGET

Wendy M McLean J.P.(Qual) LM

Secretary/Membership Officer

4RAR Association Qld. Inc.’

We have received advice of the death on 23 December 2023 of Kim (Bobbie) Roberts. He was 67. WO1 Kim Roberts served initially in 8th/12th Medium Regiment but spent most of his career with 16th Air Defence Regiment. He also served at the School of Artillery and the Soldier Career Management Agency (SCMA) in Melbourne. His final posting was as WO1 Quartermaster of 16th Air Defence Regiment. It had been my honour to work with Kim at SCMA in 1994.

Kim died of an aggressive gastric cancer only diagnosed in November this year (2023). A memorial service for Kim will be held on 18 January 2024 at 2.30pm at Kleemann Funerals, 1 Morphett Street, Mount Barker. It will be followed by a wake at the Barker Hotel, 32 Gawler Street Mount Barker from 4.30pm.

RIP Kim (Bobbie) Roberts

Peter Bruce, OAM

Obituary Resource Officer RAAHC

We have received advice of the death on 3 August 2023 of Kevin James Taylor.
He was 77. Kevin was a Nationial Serviceman who served in Vietnam with the Detachment, 131 Divisional Locating Battery from July 1969 until July 1970.

No other details are available.

RIP Kevin James Taylor.

Peter Bruce, OAM
Obituary Resource Officer

ED: The following is taken from the RAE Association of WA Newsletter.

Peter Michael Cachia passed away on 26 September 2023 aged 83 years. Peter
served in Vietnam from September 1965 to September 1966 with 3 Field Troop.

Peter John Tierney passed away on 1 October 2023 aged 78 years and 6
months. Peter was a member of 32 Small Ship Squadron and sailed to Vietnam
on the AV1356 Clive Steele from June 1966 to November 1966.

Brigadier John Francis McDonagh passed away on 11 October 2023 aged 97
years and 1 month. John served with the British Commonwealth Occupation
Force in Japan after WW2 and in Vietnam from June 1967 to March 1968 with
1 Australian Civil Affairs Unit.

Robert James (Bob) Freeman passed away on 13 October 2023 aged 74 years
and three months. Bob served with 32 Small Ship Squadron and sailed to
Vietnam on the AV1356 Clive Steele four times from January to April 1969,
July 1969 to January 1970, July to September 1970 and February to March
1971.

Kenneth John (Ken) Mitchell passed away on 4 November 2023 aged 79
years and 5 months. Ken served with 22 Construction Squadron as a cook for 8
years, he did a tour of duty to Borneo in 1966 with the unit. Ken was a member
of the Association.

Bryan John Ingram passed away on 10 November 2023 aged 78 years and 8
months. Bryan served in Vietnam from Jun 1968 to June 1969 with 17
Construction Squadron.

John Paul Opie OAM passed away on 20 November 2023 aged 85 years and
10 months. John served in in Vietnam from September 1965 to September
1966 with 3 Field Troop and 1 Field Squadron.

Dennis John Anspach passed away on 23 November 2023 aged 84 years and
2 months. Dennis served in Vietnam from November 1968 to November 1969
with 1 Field Squadron and Headquarters Australian Forces Vietnam. He was a
12th intake Army Apprentice carpenter & joiner.

William Mervyn Stinson passed away on 12 December 2023 aged 85 years
and 3 months. Bill served in Vietnam from May 1966 to June 1967 and from
February 1970 to January 1971 with 21 Engineer Support Troop.

LEST WE FORGET

I have been advised by Lerae John’s wife, that he passed away last night on the 18^{th of} December 2023 after a battle with cancer. John was an original member of 4RAR serving in Malaya, Borneo & SVN.

John is being cremated in a Private Family Service.

LEST WE FORGET

Condolences may be sent to:

Mrs Lerae Chainey

11 Headland Way,

INVERLOCH VIC 3996

Sincerely,

Wendy M McLean J.P.(Qual) LM

Secretary/Membership Officer

Today, we solemnly remember the sacrifice of Lance Corporal John (Kal) Henry Kalma from Sydney, New South Wales. Born in The Hague, The Netherlands, in 1946, John dedicated himself to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), serving valiantly in the Vietnam War.

Tragically, on the 19th of December 1968, at the young age of 22, John paid the ultimate price for his commitment. He was killed in action by an enemy Claymore mine in Bien Hoa.

John had completed two tours of duty in Vietnam with 1RAR, the first in 1965-1966, and the second as a Lance Corporal rifleman in 1968.

His memory lives on as we honour and remember his service, bravery, and sacrifice.

Kal, was and will remain as one of my best mates and will forever be in my thoughts.

I miss you mate … Ray

Sadly, I advise of the death of a Frontline member, Brian Rees.

Brian’s son Craig advised that he passed away peacefully at 8:00am on 15^th December at RAAFA Bull Creek WA.

Brian served with 1 RAR in SVN during the Battle for Fire Support Coral in 1968.

Brian was a loving Brother to Edward, Graham, John & Lorraine

Dad to myself, Damo Rees, Mike Ellyard & Carolyn

Pop to Ashlee, Brodie, Shayla, Brock, Bonnie, Jake, Jess, Riley, Polly & Clancy

There will be a service at Karrakatta on the 21st December @ 10am Norfolk Chapel KARRAKATTA WA

There will be some food & drinks after service for 1 hour.

Please don’t bring any flowers, but if you wish to do something, please donate to the Diabetes association on Brian Rees behalf.

RIP Dad 1947-2023

16 May 1938 – 2 December 2023

Richard ‘Dickie’ Johns, formally of Fairy Meadow, died in Coledale Private Hospital on Saturday 2 December 2023.

Dickie enlisted in September 1958 and attended 1 RTB and then joined 4 RAR, serving in Singapore-Malaya. He then joined 1 RAR. When 5 RAR was formed he became a founding member. In 1965 Dickie served in New Guinea and in May 1966 he deployed to Vietnam with 5RAR Mortar Platoon Support Company. Originally as an MFC with Bravo Company and later as the Mortar Platoon SGT. He retired in 1970 with the rank of WO2.

A private cremation will be held for Richard.

Sincerely

Wendy M McLean J.P.(Qual) LM

Secretary/Membership Officer

4RAR Association Qld. Inc.’