Lest We Forget – CONTACT magazine

Operation Linesmen and Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense personnel salute remains recovered from White Horse Hill in the Korean DMZ. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath.

ADF aids KIA recovery from Korean DMZ

19/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 829 Views 0 Comments Korean War, Operation Linesmen

Seventy-five years after the Korean War started, the Australian Defence Force has supported a successful remains recovery mission on a

World War 2 veteran Valerie Ireland joins Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Chris Smith for a tour of Fleet Base East and the RAN Heritage Centre. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

Veteran’s reunion after 80 years

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 556 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre, WWII

Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Christopher Smith recently welcomed 100-year-old World War 2 veteran Valerie Ireland, née Blackett, back to Fleet

Clive Wawn Junior holding the ‘short snorter’ with Squadron Leader Andrew Chadwick at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre. Story and photos by Flying Officer Casie Scott.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

A ‘short snorter’ with a powerful story

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 562 Views 0 Comments RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC), WWII

An extraordinary piece of wartime history is now on display at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre: a 10-shilling ‘short

Royal Australian Air Force officers Air Commodore Adam Spinks, left, and Air Commodore Bill Hayden unveil the Australian Armourers Association plaque at the RAAF Memorial Grove, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Memorial enshrines Air Force ‘gunnies’

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 748 Views 0 Comments

More than a century after Australian aircrew first dropped bombs over the Middle East, a memorial has been dedicated to

Combat assault dog, Fax, posthumously receives an Australian Animal Distinguished Service Medal at a ceremony at Special Air Service Regiment in Perth. Story by Major S.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Combat assault dog honoured

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1042 Views 1 Comment Afghanistan, Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, Military Working Dogs

In a moving ceremony in Perth last month, Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) combat assault dog, Fax, posthumously received the

Members of HMAS Ballarat's ship's company prepare to scatter the ashes of four Royal Australia Navy sailors and one Royal Navy sailor during a committal of ashes to the sea ceremony off the coast of Australia. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

One final wish: Committal of ashes to the sea

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1255 Views 1 Comment HMAS Ballarat

HMAS Ballarat has honoured the life and service of four former Royal Australian Navy members and one Royal Navy sailor by committing

A relative of Flight Lieutenant Ross Frayne – a World War 2 and Korean War veteran who died in a crash at RAAF Base Mallala in 1955 – places a poppy on a commemorative wreath at the new Air Force memorial at the South Australian Aviation Museum. Story by Group Captain Greg Weller.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Air Force commemorates peacetime sacrifice

03/12/202503/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1128 Views 1 Comment Aircraft Research and Development Unit, RAAF Edinburgh, South Australian Aviation Museum

Attendees gathered at the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM) to witness the Dedication and Inaugural Commemorative Service of a new

Descendants of William Henry Belpitt who attended his commemorative service at Rookwood Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Julie Rusten (Friends of Rookwood).

Lest We Forget

William Henry Belpitt MOH commemorated at Rookwood

27/11/202527/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 725 Views 0 Comments

His early years may have been spent in humble beginnings, a street urchin finding trouble where none was to be

Poppies in front of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Photo by Andrew Green.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Keeping the memories alive

11/11/202511/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 591 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force, Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day address from Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston CAPTION: Poppies in front of the Australian War

Then-Able Seaman Ross Gourlay, centre, heads towards HMAS Martindale anchored at Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea, 1944. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Honouring 100 years on the 11th hour

11/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 529 Views 0 Comments Remembrance Day, WWII

Kamikaze planes from the land of the rising sun came silhouetted against the setting sun. CAPTION: Then-Able Seaman Ross Gourlay,

Seaman Angus Norbury and Able Seaman Christopher Diviak lay a wreath on board HMAS Ballarat during a service commemorating the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Honouring our fallen

07/11/202507/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1470 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, WWII

HMAS Ballarat paused at sea to honour those who fought and fell in the Battle of Leyte Gulf – one of the

Then-president of 30 Squadron Beaufighter Association, Bruce Robertson, during his 105th birthday celebration at Castle Hill RSL Club, NSW. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

A long life of loyal service

04/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 600 Views 0 Comments WWII

On October 14, Bruce Robertson, a 105-year-old Air Force World War 2 veteran – who was the first to detect

Herbert Adams watches the premiere screening of the documentary, An Enduring Legacy: The Empire Air Training Scheme, at RAAF Base Wagga, NSW. Ssdtory by Squadron Leader Karyn Markwell. Photos by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

History and heritage on show in new film

24/10/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1058 Views 0 Comments History and Heritage – Air Force Restoration Support Section (HH-AF RSS), No. 464 Squadron, RAAF Wagga Wagga, RAAFSTT, WWII

History and Heritage – Air Force (HH-AF) officially released the documentary An Enduring Legacy: The Empire Air Training Scheme at a premiere

Major Mike Fitzpatrick, left, and his late father Keith Fitzpatrick. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Three generations of military service

10/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 999 Views 0 Comments WWII

Of the nearly one million Australians who served in World War 2, Keith Fitzpatrick was believed to be among the

Cadet Katelyn Wichman, left, and Cadet Oscar Brown, right, stand either side of former Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules loadmasters Bob Pearman, Herman ‘Dave’ Jones, Cole Coyne, Stue Hablethwaite and his service dog at the RAAF Richmond Airshow. Story by Flight Sergeant Mark Eaton.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

A century of service, a lifetime of memories

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1542 Views 0 Comments RAAF Richmond

The roar of jet engines, the thrill of aerial displays and a century of proud history came together at RAAF

Personnel from RAAF Base Richmond on the Out of the Shadows Lifeline walk. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Bringing suicide prevention Out of the Shadows

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1325 Views 0 Comments Lifeline, National Suicide Prevention Day, RAAF Richmond

Earlier this month, RAAF Base Richmond participated in Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows Walk, to remember the lives of those

Bomana War Cemetery, located near Port Moresby, is the final resting place of more than 3300 Australians. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Bomana visit a moving moment for ADF members

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3874 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Operation Wantaim, PNG, WWII

Two ADF members paid a special visit to their relatives’ graves at the Bomana War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea

Sales of Legacy bears support the annual national appeal to raise awareness and funds for the families of veterans who have given their life or health in service to our country. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo by Emma Taylor.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Annual fundraiser a big boost for Legacy

12/09/202512/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5309 Views 0 Comments Legacy Week, Vivian Bullwinkel

Across the country, sailors, soldiers and aviators took to the streets selling pin badges and bears to raise funds in

Defence APS member Grant Tebbutt with his late grandfather Tom Foster’s recently recovered World War 2 medals and a photo album belonging to his father, Ivan. Story by Lieutenant Fenlan Miller. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

ADF People Archives History Lest We Forget

Defence APS member reunited with lost medals

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3164 Views 0 Comments WWII

Forty years after they vanished, a set of medals belonging to a Defence Australian Public Service member’s grandfather has been

Recipients of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award (JCGSA) approach the Sandakan Death March Memorial in Sabah, Malaysia, while retracing the historic route. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget Overseas

A journey of remembrance and learning in Borneo

05/09/202516/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6268 Views 0 Comments Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award, WWII

Recipients of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award (JCGSA) have retraced the route of the single worst atrocity inflicted on

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