The RLIRA annual
Anzac Day Reunion
was held in
Brisbane, Queensland,
over the period
24 -25 April
2008.
The reunion
started with
pre-dinner drinks
followed by
dinner at the
Stamford Hotel,
Brisbane, on
24th April.
Those attending
the dinner were
grouped at ‘1,2,3,
Spt, and Base
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 Kate
and Susan respectively.
The top-table
were also privileged
to have behind
them the splendidly
mounted and
displayed unconsecrated
(post UDI) Presidential
Colours that
Shaun and Annette
Ryan had gallantly
and awkwardly
brought over
from the United
Kingdom in a
ski-bag.
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 morning.
at O545 hr or
‘first light:
or more colloquially
–‘sparrow phart’,
we held an emotionally
moving Anzac
Day Dawn Service,
on the bank
of the Brisbane
River in the
Brisbane River
Botanical Gardens.
With our colours
proudly with
us, the Rt Rev
Nicolas Jackson
conducted the
service with
Vince Zorocic
reading Psalm
23 and us all
responding;
after which
we sang the
Rhodesian National
Anthem; I recited
the Ode of Remembrance,
after which
we closed on
the river’s
edge and I cast
the splendid
poppied wreath
(‘To Rhodesia
and the Rhodesian
Light Infantry’)
into the river
to represent
the loss of
RLI Ouens and
Rhodesia. This
was followed
immediately
by many casting,
individually,
the poppies
representing
the 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 sad pipe
music played
by Tony Young:
- ‘Thug me goal’,
and then, slightly
more brightly
but slowly our
Regimental march:
- ‘The Saints’.
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
mast-head: it
looked splendid.
Later that morning
we formed up
in Brisbane
in our RLI blazers
and badged berets,
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, the
sheer 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; and finally,
I was overwhelmed
by the sheer
enthusiasm,
dedication,
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 forebear’s
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 marching
including my
two adult granddaughters
representing
the families
of those of
our Australasia
Branch who have
died since its
formation.
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 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
recognition
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 recognized
by the Returned
Services League
of Australia
(who organise
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
Governor General
of Australia,
Ms Quentin Bryce,
took the salute
as we gave her
a very smart
‘eyes left’,
unfurled and
dipped the Presidential
Colours, carried
gallantly by
Miles MacDonald,
an ‘Original-Incorrigible-Saint’
and Vince Zorocic,
a younger and
final ‘Incredible-Saint’.
Major General
Dick Wilson,
Commander of
the 1st 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 and 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
points. 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 on
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 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 superbly
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 organizational
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,
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
gifted and delighted
to have with
us Andrew Gibson,
once of 3 Commando,
a Bronze Cross
of Rhodesia
winner.
It was a grand
and memorable
two days; and
I look forward
to seeing all
of you again
in Perth next
year!
I wish you all
and your loved
ones a most
healthy and
fortunate twelve
months in the
meantime.
Digger Essex-Clark
30th April 2008
Patron,. The
Rhodesian Light
Infantry Regimental
Association
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