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
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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