We have received advice of the death earlier today, 11 April 2023, of Les Tomkinson. He was 90. Les served in Butterworth as Battery Sergeant Major with 110 Light Anti-aircraft Battery in 1966-69 and in Vietnam with Headquarters, 1st Australian Logistic Support Group from June 1970 until
June 1971. He died in the company of his wife Rita and other family members.
RIP Leslie Tomkinson
Peter Bruce, OAM
Obituary Resource Officer
We have received advice of the death on 10 April 2023 of Neville Stanley Hastings. He was 78. Neville was a National Serviceman who served with the Detachment 131 Divisional Locating Battery in Vietnam from May 1966 until March 1967.
Neville was a Life Member of Mundubbera RSL Club where he was secretary from 1996 until 2013 and President from 2014 until 2016.
RIP Neville Stanley Hastings.
Peter Bruce, OAM
Obituary Resource Officer
Vale Robert (Bobby) Lominga
It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of Bobby Lominga on Easter Sunday.
The funeral details are:
Monday 17th April 11:30am
Tweed Crematorium Chapel
176 Kirkwood Rd, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
Dress code: Coat and medals
Belinda McIntosh
Office Manager
Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL Sub-Branch
Sadly, we have received news that Gary COLLINS, A Coy 6 RAR Townsville & Singapore passed away on Thursday 6 April 2023.
Funeral information is:
Time/Date: 1.30pm Tuesday 18 April 2023
Location: St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 35 Cordeaux St, Campbelltown NSW 2560
Live Stream: Unknown
Sincere Condolences to Gary’s family and friends.
Please join with us in offering our deepest sympathy to those who will mourn the passing of a loved one. Another 6 RAR family member, taken too soon.
LEST WE FORGET
Allan Whelan, Secretary
The live stream details for Jock Lindsay’s funeral
The link below is from the funeral home for the live stream of the service.
“Second to None”
Rick Avery
Membership Officer
2 RAR Association, Inc
We have received advice of the death on 27 March 2023 of Robert Willem (Bob) Retrot. He was 77. Bob was a 4th intake National Serviceman who served with the Detachment, 131 Divisional Locating Battery in Vietnam from May 1967 until January 1968. He was mainly employed in Listening Posts. A funeral for Bob is to be held at Centenary Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Crematorium
353 Wacol Station Rd, Sumner QLD at 2.00pm on Friday 14 April 2023.
RIP Robert Willem Retrot.
Peter Bruce, OAM
Obituary Resource Officer
Sadly, we have received the following information via Facebook last week, but haven’t received any further info:
From Dan Maddocks (son): Hi All…. Just wanted to post & advise with a heavy heart that our amazing father Ron Maddocks 6 RAR Delta Coy Vietnam (69-70) crossed over on Tuesday 28th March 2023. Our Dad has been battling & suffering with Fibrosis throughout his lungs for many years and it finally took him on Tuesday afternoon. He crossed over peacefully at home with our Stepmum with him.
We are so proud of him & other Veterans that served in Vietnam & other conflicts for our country.
Vale Dad !!! We will always love you & never forget you!!! You are forever in our hearts!!! ????????????????❤️❤️❤️
Missing you so much, Love Dan & Keely ❤️❤️
Funeral information will be provided by email and on Facebook when received.
Condolences to the family and friends. Please join with us in offering our deepest sympathy to those who will mourn the passing of a loved one. Another 6 RAR family member, taken too soon.
LEST WE FORGET
Allan Whelan, Secretary
Ross Eastgate’s reflections.
Jock passed away on 29 March 2023 in Brisbane, aged 92.
He served in Korea with 3RAR 12 Jul 1953 to 06 Sep 1954.
He served in Malaya with 1RAR during The Emergency.
He was the Pioneer Sgt in 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn in South Vietnam 7 May 1967 – 21 May 1968.
In the early 1970s he was at the PNGDF Training Depot at Goldie River.
Born in Ayrshire, Scotland he had a brogue you could cut with a chainsaw.
He also had a wicked sense of fun.
In 1973-1974 I was a newish RMC graduate posted to Goldie Rive as the Instructor Signals.
The Army reintroduced the Bren LMG recalibred to 7.62mm as an interim section support weapon.
WO2 Merv Kirby (1RAR Malaya and Vietnam) was tasked with teaching the subbies to shoot the weapon.
He served with 1 Sect, 1 Platoon A coy 1RAR in Malaya, and was given the task by LTCOL Digger Campbell MC, a company commander with 1RAR in Malaya and in Vietnam, first tour..
Merv had been an infantry instructor and my shooting coach at Duntroon, and was a mate, as much as a new lieutenant formerly RMC cadet and a crusty infantry warrant officer could be mates.
Jock Lindsay took me aside and mentioned that Merv, the section Bren gunner, had lost the Bren when their canoe overturned while returning from patrol, had nearly drowned trying to hang on to it, and was super embarrassed about the incident.
Before I went to Duntroon, I had been CQMS of my school cadet unit, responsible at age 16 for the school armoury of about 400 weapons, including .303 Lee Enfield rifles and Bren guns.
I was pretty familiar with both weapons.
Before Merv started the lesson, I politely asked if I could first look at one, and Merv allowed his favourite subby to strip the weapon and put it back together in about a minute, before firing the action (last step) and jumping to my feet.
“Well done Sir!” an obviously impressed but not really surprised Merv said.
“Not only that Mr Kirby,” I responded, “But I’ve never lost one!”
“Get off my range Sir!”, he said, and took a lot of apologising to calm him down.
“Wait till I see that traitorous little Scotsman!” was the second last word in the incident.
“Digger” Campbell, although amused, had the last word.
He gave me two extras for unwarranted cruelty.
Merv and I served together again when he was RSM Canungra, but that’s some other stories.
He was killed when the driver of another car fell asleep and drove into him.
Valhalla will be a grand place at the moment.
I just want to advise you of the passing of Warrant Officer Class One Dudley Cecil Victor Pye AO on Sunday 2nd April 2023. There will be no funeral as per his request however, a memorial service will take place at a later date.
Service No: 13187
Rank on Discharge: WO1
Name: Dudley Cecil Victor Pye AO
Corps: Australian Army Catering Corps
DOB: 19 June 1934
DOD: 2 April 2023
Operations: Korean Veteran 3 RAR
31 December 1953 – 9 November 1954
Thanks
Mick Pye
It is with great sadness that I advise you that Digby Lawrence’s Wife Josephine (Jo) passed away this morning at 6.30am after a long illness. She is going to missed by all who knew her.
Funeral details will be forwarded at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to:
Mr. D. Lawrence
Unit85/52 University Way,
Sippy Downs Qld 4556
Sincerely
Wendy M McLean
Secretary
4RAR Association Qld Inc.