YOUR PATRON’S
IMPRESSIONS
OF THE BRISBANE
2008 REUNION
I also sent
these ‘impressions'
as part of a
‘thank you 'letter,
to all the ex-RLI
ouens attending
the reunion
‘ The Rhodesian
Light Infantry
Regimental Association
(RLIRA) Australasian
Branch annual
Anzac Day Reunion
was held in
Brisbane , Queensland
, over the period
24 - 25 April
2008. Over forty
of us well –retired
but still vigorous
Saints' and
our ladies,
plus some of
our children
and relatives,
and some parents,
travelled from
all over Australia
to Brisbane
for this reunion.
The reunion
started with
pre-dinner drinks,
followed by
dinner at the
posh Stamford
Hotel, Brisbane
, on 24 th April,
where many of
us were staying.
Those attending
the dinner were
grouped at Commando
tables, with
the top table
consisting of
the reunion
chaplain, the
Rt Rev Nicolas
Jackson, plus
four ‘original
Saints' - ‘The
Incorrigibles'
- consisting
of Lew Lloyd-Evans,
Miles MacDonald,
Alan Lucy, and
me (all A Company)
and Michael
Buchanan (D
Company); with
our ladies,
Anne, Carole,
Margaret, Brenda,
Susan, and Kate,
respectively.
I nicknamed
the original
members, whom
I took to the
Congo in 1961:
‘The Incorrigibles'.
The members
at the top table
were also privileged
to have behind
them, the splendidly
mounted and
displayed unconsecrated
(post UDI) Presidential
Colours, which
Shaun and Annette
Ryan had gallantly
and awkwardly
brought over
from the United
Kingdom in a
ski bag.
Four of the
original RLI
Saints ~ ‘The
Incorrigibles'
after breakfast;
standing right
‘Incorigible'
Alan Lucy, with
left; later
Saints john
Costopoulus,
then Andrew
Gibson, BCR;
seated left,
‘Incorrigibles'
Lew Lloyd-Evans,
then ‘Digger'
Essex-Clark,
and Miles MacDonald.
We were welcomed
to the dinner
by Jack Lamont,
and a moving
address was
given by Marshall
Ross. We toasted
‘The Regiment',
and ‘ Rhodesia
'; and a splendid
buffet dinner
was enjoyed
by all.
The next
beautiful morning,
at O545 hrs
or ‘first light
~ or more colloquially,
‘sparrow fart'
~ we held an
emotionally
moving Anzac
Day Dawn Service,
on the bank
of the Brisbane
River in the
City Botanic
Gardens. With
our Colours
proudly with
us, the Rt Rev
Nicolas Jackson
conducted the
service. Vince
Zorocic read
Psalm 23 and
we all responded;
after which
we sang the
Rhodesian National
Anthem; I recited
the Ode of Remembrance,
and then we
closed on the
river's edge
and I cast onto
the river the
splendid poppied
wreath to represent
the loss of
RLI ouens and
Rhodesia
‘To Old Rhodesia
and the RLI'
This was
followed immediately
by many casting,
individually,
poppies representing
their loved
ones and friends
of those who
died as a result
of war. These
poppies then
settled by the
wreath as it
flowed slowly
downstream to
represent all
we have lost.
This casting
of our past
was accompanied
by Tony Young
playing sad
pipe music (
Thug Me
Goal )
and then, slightly
more brightly
but slowly,
our Regimental
march (
The Saints
).
On the steps
down to the
River after
the Dawn Service
After the
service, we
returned to
the hotel for
breakfast where
Tony Young had
organised the
Rhodesian Republican
Flag to fly
proudly on the
cross-tee of
a flagpole that
had the Australian
National Flag
at the masthead:
it looked splendid.
Later that
perfect morning,
we formed up
in Brisbane
in our RLI blazers,
badged berets,
and glittering
medals, and,
after a long
wait, marched
smartly and
proudly in the
massive and
long-columned
memorial march
through the
centre of Brisbane
. My most vivid
memories are
of the precision
of our drill
movements, and
the palpable
pride of all
of us marching
in step to the
much needed
cadence call
of step because
there were far
too many pipe
and bugle bands
thumping discordantly
and confusingly
ahead and behind
us. I was also
very proud to
have two of
my grand-daughters
marching with
us.
On the march
All in all,
I was overwhelmed
by the sheer
enthusiasm,
dedication,
spirited drill
movements, and
well-merited
pride of all
within our contingent.
On the matter
of wearing medals,
particularly
those of our
forebears on
our right chest,
Lew Lloyd-Evans,
who came with
his family from
South Africa,
wore his forebears'
medals going
back, incredibly,
to the 1879
Zulu, or Kaffrarian
Wars.
The Presidential
Colours had
already added
much lustre
and pride to
our reunion
dinner and Anzac
Day Dawn Service.
Now they became
our symbol of
our pride and
Rhodesian service
as we marched
through the
centre of the
City.
We marched
six abreast
and the six-deep
column indicated
that there must
have been about
40 plus marching,
including my
two adult granddaughters,
Belinda and
Amanda, representing
the families
of those of
our Australasia
Branch who have
died since its
formation.
Mandy and Belinda
(my granddaughters)
with RLI Colours
Once again,
I believe that,
as in Sydney
last year, our
march together
as a team, and
ebullient crowd
support, gave
us all a strong
sense of acceptance
and welcome
from the people
of Australia
, and a clear
recognition
of the value
of our past
endeavours as
Rhodesians.
Though we marched
with Section
‘F ‘ of the
march, as ‘Allied
Forces‘, we
were still placed
ahead of the
United States
of America but,
naturally, behind
those representatives
of the United
Kingdom: a clear
statement that
we had fought
alongside Australian
Forces in the
Boer War, the
First and Second
World Wars and
in Malaya. In
fact ‘ Rhodesia
', but not Zimbabwe
, is still recognized
by the Returned
Services League
of Australia
(which organises
the marches
in each capital
city) as an
allied nation
and once member
of the Commonwealth
of Nations .
The Governor
of Queensland,
and the next
to be Governor-General
of Australia,
Ms Quentin Bryce,
took the salute
as we gave her
a very smart
‘eyes left'
and unfurled
and dipped the
Presidential
Colours, carried
gallantly by
Miles MacDonald,
an ‘Original-Incorrigible-Saint'
and Vince Zorocic,
our branch secretary,
a younger and
final ‘Incredible'-Saint';
whose proud
father was watching
the march.
Front rank and
Colours
Major General
Dick Wilson,
Commander of
the 1 st Australian
Division and
the Australian
Joint Deployable
Force, who was
taking the salute
with Quentin
Bryce, saluted
as soon as he
saw our Colours
dipped. He later
commented about
our smart dress,
drill, and impressive
presentation,
and the brilliance
of our Colours.
Many others
have since commented
that, apart
from some of
the many Australian
Regular Army
Infantry Units
marching on
the parade,
we were ‘second
to none'! This
became obvious
to us all as
the clapping
and shouting
surged louder
and louder as
we approached
and marched
past elements
of the huge
crowd (estimated
as the largest
ever to attend
the Anzac Day
march in Brisbane)
that lined the
whole three
kilometre route
from assembly
area to dispersal
point. Some
sudden whoops
and joyous shouts
from the crowd
indicated that
there must have
been the odd
pocket of ecstatic
Rhodie
spectators.
The march, however,
due to stoppages
from collapsing
old soldiers
and some spectators,
and halts for
their medical
attention, and
the typically
late arrival
of the Royal
Australian Navy
band, took three
and a half long
standing-and-marching
hours.
After the
march, we assembled
with our families
in a small reserved
area at the
Port Office
Hotel for some
much needed
refreshments
and a snack
lunch where,
again, many
memories of
past warrior
and other events
past were recalled
and enjoyed.
It has been
reported that
some 250,000
came out onto
the streets
of Brisbane
to watch the
march and well
over two million
are estimated
to have watched
it on television.
The reunion
dinner, Dawn
Service and
march combined
was a grand
occasion that
reignited our
pride in our
service for
Rhodesia and,
particularly,
our time spent
creating and
experiencing
the eternal
bonds of comradeship
and the excellence
of professional
soldiers within
the magnificent
Rhodesian Light
Infantry – ‘The
Incredibles'.
The reunion,
as a whole,
and especially
the march, also
enabled our
families to
see our pride,
the worthiness
and strength
of our RLI bonding,
and the importance
and respect
that Australia
gives to those
who have served
well as soldiers,
sailors, or
airmen. One
ex Rhodesian
Air Force man
identified himself
to me at our
Dawn Service,
but I saw none
with us or with
the other Rhodesian
group at the
march.
It was a
indelibly memorable
and emotionally
rewarding two
days for all
of us that gathered
in Brisbane
for our RLIRA
Reunion. Our
Branch President,
Tony Young and
the Queensland
Chapter principals,
Marshall Ross
and Jack Lamont,
must be congratulated
and thanked
for their organisational
skills and dedication.
There are, of
course, many
others who deserve
special and
warm thanks
for their efforts,
but I must mention
Shaun and Annette
Ryan for bringing
out and returning
our Colours
in a most awkward
ski bag; Lew
and Carole Lloyd-Evans
for journeying
from South Africa
with their son
Darren; and
Margaret and
Miles MacDonald
for organizing
the Dawn Service.
I must also
thank Tony and
Jean Young,
once again,
for their masterminding
and constant
guidance to
all involved
in the reunion
and its primary
organisers of
the Queensland
Chapter, Marshall
Ross and Jack
Lamont and their
supportive ladies,
Yvonne and Jennine,
respectively.
We were also
graced to have
with us Andrew
Gibson, once
of 3 Commando,
a Bronze Cross
of Rhodesia
winner.
It was a
memorable and
heartening two
days; especially
meeting so many
old friends;
and I look forward
to seeing all
of you again
in Perth next
year!
I wish all
of you and your
loved ones a
most healthy
and fortunate
twelve months
in the meantime.
We will all
have to save
up for that
grand occasion,
with our brother
ouens from West
Australia .
~The Saints
go marching
on~
Digger
Essex-Clark
Patron, The
Rhodesian Light
Infantry Regimental
Association
30 th April
2008
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