SX11743
Cfn (Jake)
William John Patman, born 20 December
1917, passed away peacefully at his Croydon Park home on the
15 August 2008. He enlisted on the 12th March 1941 as a Tank
driver, then later transferred to 2/9th Regimental Workshops
as a Cfn Fitter & Turner. He was allocated to B Sqn, 10
Tp, Landing Craft "Carter Hall" as a Cfn. Jake discharged
on the 11th January 1946, he started work at Shearers, Woodville
after the war and retired at the age of 65 years.
Clarrie
Mitchell
C Squadron - 2/9 AARG
- TX8221
Tpr S.(Scotty) E. McDougall
- TX8078
M.J. Chivers
- TX5697
E.E. Cross
Editor: If any members have any service
details on the above, please forward to me so I can add it
to the page.
SX15266
Sgt Gwynn Thomas John (‘Scott’) Hester, born 15th December
1910, died at Stirling on the 23rd May 2008. He was President
of the 2nd/9th AARG Association in 1967/1969. The congregation
was well attended at the funeral service at the Church of the
Epiphany, Crafers, on the 29th May 2008.
Cedric Wells
Alwin Fordinandt
Lindner (8 Apr 1917 - 16 Apr 2008)
Passed away peacefully
on Friday, 16 April 2008 at Mt Gambier, aged 91 years.
WO1 Edward
(Ted) George Wescombe
20 Dec 1933 - 5 Aug 2007
Ted did his 100
days National Service at Woodside Army Barracks in 1952 with
Clarrie Mitchell, 'A' Coy, 3 Pl, 6 Sect. He was posted to 3/9
SAMR, 'A' Sqn at Unley and completed his two years national
service obligation, with the Staghound armoured cars, Canadian
scout cars and White command vehicles.
In 1956 he joined
the RAAF, in the fire department and served for 22 years, becoming
a Chief Fire instructor and qualified to the rank of WO1, he
was later posted to Sale, Pt Cook, Thailand and Western Australia.
Ted and Eileen
came to live at Burton and was keenly involved with the Salisbury
RSL and Para Districts Sub Branch of the National Service Association,
he was a member of SAMRA in 2004.
Clarrie Mitchell.
SX14553
Tpr G. Bray
Passed
away on 28/4/07, Geoff was an initial member of "A" Sqn and stayed
with the Regiment until Borneo He transferred to "B" Sqn for the
Labuan landing. He was a well liked soldier and he always was
cheerful and did his duty.
Reg Skinner.
WO2 Harold
(Harry) Amos Young
HAROLD (HARRY)
AMOS YOUNG passed away on 10 July 2007 aged 69 years. Harry
enlisted in the RAAC at aged 18 years, he had a long career
with the corps retiring around 1976. He spent three years with
the Regiment, 3rd/9th SAMR from 1973 to 1976 as a member of
the cadre staff.
LT Ross
Williams
Was privately
buried on 22 May 07, aged in his early 80's. Ross was in RHQ
as Tp Ldr Recce Tp, Clarrie Mitchell was his 2ic (WO2). Before
retirement he was the chief baker at Sunshine Bakery, Seaton.
He also served 43 years with the Sea Rescue Squadron of S.A.
Clarrie Mitchell
SGT Frank
Riley
Passed away peacefully
some months ago, aged in his early 80's. Frank was the TPT NCO
in HQ Sqn circa 1960, serving under Cedric Wells, Ray Stanley,
Clarrie Mitchell and Brian Bond. Before retirement he was as
a semi trailer driver with Kelvinator transporting white goods
to Melbourne.
Clarrie Mitchell
VX 52226
LT Richard (Dick) Schofield (LTCOL Retd)
A Troop Leader
of 3 Troop "A" Squadron, 2/9 Australian Armoured Regiment
AIF, Dick died in Sydney on 2 May 2007.
Dick was inducted
in late 1940 into the training scheme at Balcome for instructors
to train officers and NCO's for the Armoured Fighting Vehicles
School to be assembled at Puckapunyal in February, 1941, as
a preliminary to the formation of the Armoured Division. Thus
he had contact with officers and NCO's from South Australia
and Tasmania who were later to form the 2/9 Australian Armoured
Regiment.
When the Regiment
moved to Puckapunyal for training in late 1941 Dick was attached
to it and later he was commissioned in it. After preliminary
training , he was attached to "A" Squadron and later appointed
Troop Leader of 3 Troop. He trained his troop in various tanks
..such as the General Grant, the Stuart (his favorite), and
the Matilda.His training was strict and of high quality, helped
by his own earlier training as an instructor. He led his troop
through in the opposed landing on Muara Island, then on to
Brunei, he then pushed down the coast to Miri, Sarawak. Here
he organised the defences for an anticipated counter attack
by the Japanese. However, hostilities ceased suddenly with
the dropping of the atom bomb.
He became active
in assisting troops in rehabilitation and training for civilian
life. After the war he retained a connection with the Army
and in time attained the rank of LTCOL. He maintained his
close links with the 2/9 Aust Armd Regt Group Association,
visited us for commemorations etc. and attended our visit
to the Commonwealth War Memorial, Canberra. Unfortunately
his health prevented his attendance at the unveiling of our
plaque there last year. We will all miss him.
Reg Skinner
2IC, A Sqn
James Alexander
(Jim) Polkinghorn (Capt Retd)
Jim passed away
peacefully on Sunday, 16 December 2006, aged 67 years.
Bill Carmichael
Bill was buried
on Monday 22 May 06, he passed away on Wed 17 May 06, Bill has
been a member of SAMRA since 1993.
"It is with
great sadness to learn of the passing of Bill. He had a great
love for the unit, Scotland and poetry."
Regards Dean Manuel.
Albert
Pryce RFD ED (Capt Retd)
CAPT Albert Pryce
RFD ED, RAAC, passed away last night (Wed 5 Apr 06) after fighting
against an aggressive cancer for over 2 years. In fact the medical
marvel he achieved by surviving for so long has created a new
record the medical profession are amazed about. Thankfully,
he is now at rest.
Murray Alexander
"I remember
Bert coming to 3/9 in around 1964 from 4/19 PWLH. He was a meticulous
planner, and a very competent radio technician. On one occasion
when comms were really not working well, Bert ran the entire
regimental net through a 10 set with an aerial slung over a
wire fence. I don't pretend to know how he did it, but I remember
being mightily impressed by his skill. I'm sure all who knew
him will have tales to tell about Bert's quiet determination."
Yours in Armour,
Mike Phillips.
John B.
Blinman
3/9 SAMR
1936 - 2005
John B. Blinman
was a SAMRA member since 1994 and was admitted Ward C at FMC
on life support in August 05.
Brian died aged
69 on the 24th December 2005, the funeral was held on the 30th
December 2005 which I attended. There were about 60-70 people
there being family and members of his bowls club, the retired
bankers' association and the RSL. A good eulogy was delivered
with his beret on the coffin and a bugler for the Last Post.
"Brian did
3 months National Service as well as his service with 3/9SAMR.
I met his only surviving sibling, Michael, explained why I was
there and offered the Association's condolences and made a donation
to the Heart Foundation on behalf of SAMRA."
Mark McKenna
Tpr John
Bermingham
3/9 SAMR, B Sqn - Gawler
1938 - 2005
John sadly passed
away on Sunday, 2 October 2005 aged 67, as a result of a heart
attack.
Warrant
Officer Class One Ray
Brown
29
January 1949 - 31 January 2005
EXTRACT
FROM WO1 RAY BROWN's EULOGY
Ray's introduction
to army life began when he became a member of the schools army
cadet unit, achieving the rank of Cadet Under officer. A highlight
of these times was a camp in the school holidays at El Alamein
Army Camp - a proper soldier for two weeks! On leaving school
he gained a printing apprenticeship with Adelaide Typographers
- a branch of News Ltd - under Jack Oatey who was also a neighbour.
Ray was never really happy with this work, and when he was called
up for National Service, he couldn't resign his job fast enough.
Whilst in the regular army Ray gained the rank of Acting Troop
Sgt, 1st Armoured Regiment. Whilst he was there he played football
against Kevin Sheedy's Engineers team (and lost the game.) When
National Service was abandoned due to a change of Government,
he wanted to stay in the Regular army, but was forced to leave
due to hearing damage caused by noise of tank guns. Ray then
spent a further 16 years in the Army Reserve where he rose to
the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 within the Armoured Corps.
