CONTACT 37 NMBVAA Inc. Queensland and Brisbane Branch Newsletter May 2018 DISCLAIMER: The views and/or content in this News do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association or that of State or National Executives, Delegates and/or Committee.
NATIONAL MALAYA & BORNEO VETERANS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA Inc. Queensland State and Brisbane Branch PO Box 86 WYNNUM 4178 QLD President: R. A. Edwards. Secretary: L. J. Edwards Phone: (07) 3396 6705 Fax: (07) 3396 6705 Mobile: 0408 431 590 Email: robertedwards14@bigpond.com The NMBVAA was officially established in Australia in 1995 and is a self-funded, non-profit association which uses only unpaid volunteers. Patron: Lt Col Brian Avery (Retd) Mates Helping Mates Our Association is open to anyone who has served in Malaya, Borneo, Singapore and Brunei at any time, along with their spouse and family members. We are an All Services Association with members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Planters, Teachers, as well as overseas military members. We meet once a month, usually on the 4th Tuesday, for a short meeting to let all members catch up on what s been happening with the Association, and then we have a social luncheon together. The NMBVAA (Inc.) is Australia wide, and is the only NMBVAA (Inc.) that is affiliated with the International NMBVA with members in England, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and South Africa. Proudly printed by the office of Ross Vasta MP for Bonner.
PRESIDENT S REPORT 3/5/18 Allen Edwards (President) It hardly seems a year ago that we marched in the city for Anzac Day. While we only had a hand ful of members we must make more of an effort to boost our numbers for next year. We have our members spread all over Qld/N.S.W. and I am sure all that attended the dawn services and the members enjoyed the day by remembering old mates of long ago. After our march we once again attended the Merthyr Lawn Bowls club and enjoyed a very nice meal. Unfortunately we were not able to run our raffle due to the lack of punters. I have received some great photos from Ian and Lisa Miller of the beautiful wreath that Lisa made.thanks Lisa for the great work and the photos, also the snap of your dog Cara. If anyone has photos of the day can they please send them in so that we can get them to our Editor for our next CONTACT. To our members and assoc members that have had hospital stays and illness, I wish you a speedy recovery. To those that have lost loved ones our thoughts will always be with you. Let s hope 2018 will be a better year for all. There are still a few members lagging behind with their membership dues and I hope this will remind them that dues are to be paid on the 1/1/ each year. Prepartions are now underway for our big day out on the 31 st of August so get the shoes and medals polished up once again. All the best for the 2018 season and the best of health and wealth for all. ALLEN
ANZAC DAY 2018 Ms Lisa Miller, an associate member, laid a wreath in honour of all who served our country, on behalf of the NMBVAA Australia and Brisbane Branch at the Gaythorne ANZAC Day Dawn Service. She was accompanied by her dog, Cara.
National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia Inc. South Australia & Northern Territory Branch ABN 31 340 936 038 70th anniversary of the start of the Malayan Emergency, 1948-2018 In 2018, we will commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 1915, and the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day when on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent on the Western Front. This Great War had seen the mobilisation of over 70 million people, with as many as 13 million dead and perhaps one-third of them with no known grave. In 2018, we will also commemorate 70th anniversary of the start of the undeclared war known as the Malayan Emergency. This was a guerrilla war fought in the Federation of Malaya which lasted from 1948 until 1960 and cost the lives of 39 Australians. The sacrifice of our 39 Australians, among the 1,800 Malayan and Commonwealth troops who lost their lives in this 12 year conflict, was not in vain, serving to uphold the sovereignty of Malaya allowing the successful attainment of independence on 31 August 1957 and the eventual creation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. * * * * * The Federation of Malaya, a federation of eleven states (nine Malay states plus two of the British Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca), came into existence on 1 February 1948. Essentially, the Emergency began on 16 June 1948 when three European plantation managers in Perak were executed by three members of the Malayan Communist Party. The British declared a State of Emergency in Perak on 18 June, and then enacted emergency measures country-wide from July. It was an undeclared war : the rubber plantations and tin-mining industries urged the use of the term emergency since their losses would not have been covered by Lloyd s insurers if it had been termed a war. Most official records give 18 June 1948 as the declared commencement of the Malayan Emergency, however the qualifying period for the Commonwealth clasp MALAYA actually begins on 16 June 1948. While the Emergency was underway the Federation of Malaya became independent on 31 August 1957 with Tunku Abdul Rahman as Prime Minister (It is important to note that Malaysia did not come into existence until 16 September 1963). The Commonwealth contribution included Malayan and British units, including Gurkhas and Royal Marines, operating in support of the Federation of Malaya Police. Other troop contributing nations included Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. Australia s commitment to operations fell within the context of its membership of the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR). Ultimately each of the three battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment served in Malaya under Headquarters Far East Land Forces (FARELF), as a rotating battalion group with support elements within the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group, and with an Australian field battery embedded within a British field artillery regiment.
The Royal Australian Air Force deployed Lincoln bombers and C-47 Dakota transports operating out of Singapore and later Kuala Lumpur with the Far East Air Force (FEAF), and Canberra bombers and Sabres operating from Butterworth air base. The Royal Australian Navy initially committed two destroyers, followed by the aircraft carriers, Melbourne and Sydney, and nine destroyers for three to nine months at a time. Thirty-nine Australian servicemen lost their lives (RAN 2, Army 27 and RAAF 10), fifteen of them as a result of operations, and 27 were wounded. The government of the Federation of Malaya officially declared the Emergency over on 31 July 1960. Despite the drawdown in violence from 1960, communist leader, Chin Peng renewed the insurgency against the Malaysian government, leading to a Second Malayan Emergency from 1968 to 1989. Service awards Service personnel received Commonwealth and Australian campaign medals for service during the Malayan Emergency, between 16 June 1948 (the date of the first murders in Perak state) and 31 July 1960 (the date the government of the Federation of Malaya officially declared the Emergency over). In addition, the government of Malaysia later offered Commonwealth veterans the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal (established on 3 March 2004) to recognise their service in upholding the sovereignty of Malaysia. The eligibility period for the Pingat Jasa Malaysia runs from 31 August 1957 (the date of Malaya s independence) to 31 December 1966 (the declared end of the Emergency). Observation In South Australia, NMBVAA members will be observing the following dates in 2018: Wednesday 25 April Anzac Day: March and Service of Commemoration, with a members reunion to follow Saturday 16 June 70th anniversary of the commencement of the Malayan Emergency: Service of Commemoration at the West Torrens War Memorial Gardens all welcome Saturday 25 August Malaya & Borneo Veterans Day: Service of Commemoration at the West Torrens War Memorial Gardens all veterans, friends, families and guests are welcome Sunday 11 November Remembrance Day: Service of Commemoration Paul A Rosenzweig Major Paul Rosenzweig OAM (ret d) holds a Master of Arts in South East Asian Studies, and is a Fellow of the Military Historical Society of Australia. He currently serves as the Public Relations Officer for the SA/NT Branch of the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association of Australia Inc. Contact us Phone: Brian Selby (President) 08 8387 1672 Don Cameron (Vice-President) 08 8264 2858 Email: Mr Brian Selby (President) oneoneecho111@gmail.com National website: http://www.nmbvaa.org.au/ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nmbvaaadelaide/
1. The flag s half-mast my mate is gone the grief s too raw to share My mind is blank I cannot think his loss is all that s there. MY MATE LEST WE FORGET by Ian Coate 5. He was a soldier through and through, he stood beside the best With things that mattered on the field, be sure he passed the test. To family that he left behind, I m sorry for this day, I want to share how much he meant, but don t know what to say. They say he died for freedom s sake in part this may be true I really feel his sacrifice was meant for me and you It s hard to talk about a mate and sum up all he is, Those traits the ANZAC digger had those virtues all were his. I always knew he had my back - he was a dinkum friend. His loved ones were upon his mind until the very end, We shared good times, we shared some bad, we laughed and reminisced. My mate sure was a lot of things but most of all he s missed. I never told him what he meant for this I do regret, But always will I honour him, My Mate - LEST WE FORGET The poem, My Mate Lest We Forget was written by Ian Coate and read out by him at the unveiling of his painting at the Museum of Western Australia.
NMBAA Queensland and Brisbane Branch took part in the Brisbane 2018 ANZAC Day march. Mr Allen Edwards, President, was in the first vehicle while Mr David Brewer, Vice-President, led the marchers. Photo was taken as the group was passing ANZAC Square. LEST WE FORGET REMINDER- FEES FOR 2018 Fees are due on the 1 st of each year. If you have moved or changed your contact details please let Laraine know by calling 07 3396 6705 or Email robertedwards14@bigpond.com.au Please send cheque or money order to the value of $20 (member) or $10 (Associate/Social) to: The Secretary, NM&BVAA Inc. PO Box 86, Wynnum 4178 Allen Edwards This Newsletter will be published quarterly by the NM&BVAA Inc. Committee Members for Queensland State and Brisbane Sub-Branch of the NM&BVAA Inc. are as follows: President: Allen Edwards 07 3396 6705 Secretary: Laraine Edwards 07 3396 6705 Assistant Secretary: Betty Brewer Vice President: David Brewer Treasurer: Laraine Edwards Memberships: Allen Edwards Memorabilia: Laraine Edwards Communications Officer: Peter Anderson 0413 354 479 Pensions & Welfare: Ron Virgen OAM 07 3267 0249 Editor: Peter Anderson 0413 354 479 (This Contact editor: Dell Shears RFD 0475 521 415) Correspondence: The Secretary, PO Box 86, Wynnum, Qld. 4178