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