#1
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Buried beyond history
Hi All
I came across this story which I had not heard of before and I believe these soldiers should not be forgotten. It is typical for governments to forget them this would have been seen as negative press and they probably were more concerned about only publishing "Good" news stories. The public was again treated like mushrooms. Cheers Tony Quote:
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Anthony (Tony) VAN RHODA. Strathalbyn. South Australia |
#2
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Kapooka Disaster
This incident is well known locally and the is a memorial erected at the site of the bunker. I'm fairly sure a memorial service is held at the site on an annual basis. I'll snap some pics of the memorial next time i drive past, it is right on the edge of the Olympic highway, south west of Wagga Wagga.
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#3
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Yes, please do show us the memorial. This is a very interesting and tragic part of Aust history I had not heard about before......ever!
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Ford CMP, 115" WB,1942 (Under Restoration...still) Medium sized, half fake, artillery piece project. (The 1/4 Pounder) |
#4
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As Howard said the story is well known in this area and has been on the news regularly in the past few years since the new memorial was unveiled.
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Robert Pearce. |
#5
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I wounder how many lives have been lost at Kapooka since the day it began. Would not have a clue if this is right or not or it was said to give us the "shits" but we were told that 16 young men had taken their lives there. Maybe, maybe not who knows.
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F60L Cab 12 |
#6
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It is a tragic fact that even today, every year in military training exercises, someone dies. It is a testament to the inherent dangers of the profession. They are all heroes in my opinion whether they are serving the country at war, or practice during peace...it's always dangerous, they are always putting themselves in harms way in service of their country.
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I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot! |
#7
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Update.
G'Day All,
So I pulled up to have a look and take some photos. Very long dried grass on the road side... Watch for wriggly sticks! Now, just step over this stock fence... Watch the barbed wire! Here it is! Bugger! Not it! All this time, I was wrong... So I have done some research, and now know the precise location. Next visit to Wagga I'll snap some photos, I promise. Meanwhile, have a look at this... YouTube Video about the book available on the subject, by Andrew Johnston, has been recently published. Link to Book page.
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#8
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Lest we forget
Hi Howard
Thank you so much for posting the Y-tube clip. It is very moving and one questions why it always takes us so long to tell the story. When I located and read the story I knew I had to post it for others to read. These incidents should never be covered up, the story however bad should be openly reported and discussed. There have been to many incidents in the Army that are quickly covered up. LEST WE FORGET. Cheers Tony
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Anthony (Tony) VAN RHODA. Strathalbyn. South Australia |
#9
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Mass casualties and public forgetfulness
In 1974 a frag' grenade exploded in a pyrotechnics safety lecture at the Camp Valcartier army cadet summer camp. Six boys died and 54 cadets were injured. << http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10148751-as-you-were>>
It seems a long-service but disinterested Regular Force officer was in a rush to do anything other than teach cadets. Over a span of several days which included a live fire grenade range, crossloading of crates of dummy and live frag grenades, and arriving at the cadet camp. The investigation concentrated on finding out if one of the kids had brought the grenade into the lecture, with no regard for the grieving of teenage boys alone and away from their families. The kids were terrorized by the investigators, and extremely little information or reassurance about the accident. They were civilians wearing uniforms. Although not subject to the Code of Service Discipline, they were ordered not to talk or tell anyone. The survivors carried tremendous Post Traumatic Stress into the adult lives. Some did not survive or thrive. Others became investigators. The result has only this year been recognition of the accident, the commissioning of a more therapeutic investigation and the possibility of survivors pensions. I know three of the cadets, either as hometown friends or as reserve acquaintances. If I'd joined cadets a year earlier, I could have been in that lecture.
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Terry Warner - 74-????? M151A2 - 70-08876 M38A1 - 53-71233 M100CDN trailer Beware! The Green Disease walks among us! |
#10
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The wagga disaster
What a disaster....
What a moving tribute on you tube... This year is the 70 th ... How about as many MLU , KVE and general public jioning in with the poeple of Wagga / Kapooka next May to commerate.
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John Mackie (Snr) VK2ZDM Ford GPW- script #3A Ford Trailer M3A1 White Scout Car -Under restoration- 1941 Ford Truck (Tex Morton) F15A Blitz Radio sets- #19, #122, #62, ART13, and Command |
#11
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Unfortunately the youtube clip is barred in the UK on copyright grounds.
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#12
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Let's!
Quote:
Time to fire off a few emails. H (Maybe tomorrow... It's Christmas!)
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#13
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Photographs
Happy New Year, All!
I managed to visit the site, and took a few photos. Above: the actual site of the explosion. Property boundary changes and road realignment places the actual site on private land, the memorial is erected on Commonwealth land directly opposite. Above: The memorial stone placed directly opposite the original site. A couple of more can be found Here
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#14
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Quote:
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#15
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Quote:
Ah, the tradition of pin ups is strong. Was that a CP inside a cargo Deuce?
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Terry Warner - 74-????? M151A2 - 70-08876 M38A1 - 53-71233 M100CDN trailer Beware! The Green Disease walks among us! |
#16
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Quote:
http://users.uniserve.com/~echo2/rem...ce/slesse.html
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Terry Warner - 74-????? M151A2 - 70-08876 M38A1 - 53-71233 M100CDN trailer Beware! The Green Disease walks among us! |
#17
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Quote:
H
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#18
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We shall remember them
Thanks for posting this most saddening piece to our attention.
We shall forever remember them . They shall never grow old. Thanks to our friends from the Commonwealth. Excerp from Flander's fields, a war poem : ''... We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flander's FIELDS. .. if ye break faith with us who die. We shall not sleep, tough poppies grow, In Flander's fields. Lt col John McCrae a Canadian officer of WW1
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44 GPW / 44 C-15-A Cab 13 Wireless 5 with 2K1 box X 2 / 44 U.C. No-2 MKII* / 10 Cwt Cdn Brantford Coach & Body trailer X 2 / 94 LSVW |
#19
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Yes. Each Arty unit would build their own GPOs and Battery CPs. ¾ tons would be fitted out as GPOs while Deuces would be used for the Bty CP. The one in the photos belongs to X Bty 5RALC.
Last edited by John McGillivray; 01-01-15 at 23:50. |
#20
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G'Day all,
I've spoken to some people about us being involved in this year's commemeration. At this point all energies are being focused upon the Gallipoli 100 year ANZAC service, but it seems likely that the will be a special commemoration of the tragedy. More news as it comes to hand. H
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#21
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Update
G'Day All,
The word is: Members of the public are welcome to attend. Normally, those attending park at the Kapooka entrance and are bussed to the site. The officer in charge would like to see some MV's there, but space is limited, and therefore there are logistics and safety concerns to be addressed. I need to know some firm numbers of who would like to attend with their MV. PM me or email me please. Thanks In Advance H
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
#22
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H
As discussed over the phone - I'm in
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Pax Vobiscum.......may you eat three meals a day & have regular bowel movements. |
#23
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Joining Instructions
Finally, I received word back from Kapooka today.
As previously stated, the service is open to the public. However they have a specific request for those of us attending in MV's. The service is 2.00pm 21st May I have been instructed to have any MV's parked before this time, suggested 1.45pm. I suggest we assemble at San Isidore, on the corner of Kapooka Rd and Benedict Ave, BEFORE 1.30pm. Those of us in Civy vehicles can park there and catch a ride in the MV's. Important to note, no access will be available from the South (off Olympic Highway) before or during the service. Guests are parking at the Kapooka front gates, and then being bussed out to the site. Traffic from the North will be closed shortly before the service as well, which is why we have to be there early. So far we have one blitz, a Harley & sidecar, and possibly two jeeps. Please if you are able come along. 70th anniversary don't come around too often in one man's lifetime. Email me if you intend on coming. Cheers H
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Howard Holgate F15 #12 F15A #13 (stretched) F60S #13 C15A #13 Wireless (incomplete) |
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