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CONTACT magazine

By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton

Australian soldiers from the Special Operations Task Group and Reconstruction Task Force farewell fallen comrade Private Luke Worsley during a ramp ceremony at their base in Uruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan on 27 November 2007. Photo by Captain Al Green.
Poets Corner 

FOR LUKE

23/04/202224/04/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 352 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

There’s a soldier’s memorial at the end of our street, from a war they claim we lost For 41 Australian

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My new Veteran's Lapel Pin, box-mounted in the shirt pocket. Photo by self.
Poets Corner 

THE MASK

09/04/202209/04/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 351 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

. PEOPLE RARELY SEE MY FACE. IT HIDES BEHIND A MASK TO FREE ME FROM ITS VACANT STARE, IS NOT

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Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival, led by a Japanese officer, walks under a flag of truce to negotiate the capitulation of Allied forces in Singapore, on 15 February 1942. It was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history.
Poets Corner 

SUNSET ON AN EMPIRE

21/03/202221/03/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 406 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

. Everything was surreal, the calm before the storm With G&T at Raffles and playing bridge till dawn They swept

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Commanding Officer of 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel John Eccleston gives instructions to a soldier in the Enoggera Close Training Area during Exericse Ram Strike. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.
Poets Corner 

THE SPARTANS

02/02/202202/02/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 522 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

We fought like ancient Spartans, with no shame or fear Amongst the tales of bravery, very few came near During

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A collection of rare old warbirds at the Wings Over Illawarra air Show 2021. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Poets Corner 

THE WARBIRDS NEST

27/01/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 420 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

WE ARRIVED HERE MANY YEARS AGO, BUT NOW I STAND ALONE BENEATH THE MOUNTAIN’S SHADOW, IN THE HUNTER TOWN OF

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Poets Corner 

THE HOMELESS REFUGEE

02/01/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 706 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

Barney was a treasure, one of my great finds We met up in hospital, where they patched up broken minds

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Vale Frank Lawton
Poets Corner 

THE EIGHTH BELL

09/12/202109/12/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 864 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

I first met Frank on Anzac Day and times of commemoration We both came to this great land, by way

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Poets Corner 

The French Disconnection

24/11/202124/11/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 804 Views 1 Comment AUKUS, By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

Dear Mr Macron, there’s a sign I’d like to make, with an upright thumb – take your bloody submarines and shove them up your…!

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In celebration of their mascot, the Australian magpie, No. 75 Squadron applied a black and white commemorative paint scheme to F/A-18A Hornet A21-018. The aircraft will sport the new colour scheme ahead of the squadron's transition to the F-35A Lightning II in 2022. The squadron adopted the magpie because it is a belligerent defendant of its young with the courage to attack. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.
Poets Corner 

THE OLD MAGPIE

13/11/202113/11/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 525 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID  AS HE GAZED DOWN ON THE POPPIES, IN

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Army Privates Kate Larby and Maddison Lillie, and Victorian Department of Health Authorised Officer Daniel Green on patrol as part of a COVID-19 Household Engagement Program to support the Victorian State government’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Photo by Private Michael Currie.
Poets Corner 

PANDEMIC 2021

12/10/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 582 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

The bells of peace, rang loud and long, 5 million lost in war  But the pandemic about to break, would

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A Halifax B Mark II Series 1A of No. 78 Squadron RAF based at RAF Breighton, Yorkshire, UK, circa 1941. Photo by Flying Officer G. Woodbine, Royal Air Force – from Imperial War Museums collection, via Wikimedia.
Poets Corner 

JUST ANOTHER NIGHT AT WORK (for “Deadly”)

06/10/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 715 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

I knew Ernie for many years, until he passed away He related to me this story, late one ANZAC Day

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Poets Corner 

“BUSTER’S” BOMBER 

08/09/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 703 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

I have little trust, in fate or superstition If religion is your soap box, it depends on what rendition I

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Graves of unknown soldiers who died during World War I but who's identity remains unknown are marked "Known Unto God".
Poets Corner 

The Final Judgement

28/08/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 564 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

He was just a lad when his luck ran out and he fell in mortal sleep While a world away

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Private Frank Jelen of 3RAR sitting on an armoured recovery vehicle during Operation Overlord on the border of Phuoc Tuy and Long Khanh Provinces, June 1971.
Poets Corner 

THE PARTING SHOTS – Commemorating the Battles of Long Khanh and Nui Le

08/08/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 536 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

He was just a kid with acne, when he first wore his jungle greens About to learn the hard way,

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Fromelles headstones. Photo by Petty Officer Mez Merrill
Poets Corner 

DON’T FORGET ME COBBER

30/07/202131/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 643 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

“Don’t forget me cobber,” the cry rang out from hell that was Fromelles bloody battlefield, where five thousand diggers fell

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Bocker on Remembrance Day 2019 – superimposed over a slouch hat and boots. Background photo by Corporal Nunu Campos – Bocker's photo supplied by Tomas Hamilton – digital composition by CONTACT.
Poets Corner 

BOCKA’S BOOTS

18/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 635 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

THERE’S A PAIR OF BOOTS, WITH A DIGGER’S HAT, MOUNTED FOR ALL TO SEE – A SILENT IMMORTAL TRIBUTE, FOR THEY’RE SURE TO OUTLAST ME.

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goanna likes wraffies
Poets Corner 

MONITOR MADNESS

06/07/202106/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 807 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

The military has long had mascots, eagles, bulls and sheep, But when parades are over, someone has to sweep, The droppings…

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Members of the Australian medical contingent carry trunks to the Landing Zone at Camp Bradman for backloading to Islamabad, during Operation Pakistan Assist in 2006. Photo by Corporal Damian Shovell.
Poets Corner 

THE OLD TEA CHEST

30/06/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 818 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

It’s just a battered tea chest, with its’ secrets long secured Within its tired and weathered frame, their future was

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Australian Army Private Sam Randall and Corporal James Milne from the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment on Exercise Wolf Crawl, at the Canungra Field Training Area, Queensland. Base photo by Private Jacob Hilton. Digitally added to by CONTACT.
Poets Corner 

 The Choko Vine

15/06/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 917 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

I had not long left the service and had so much time on hand, I tried to set up a vegie patch, on my little piece of land.

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Australian Defence Force Academy Air Force trainee officers stand at attention during the raising of the RAAF Ensign at Commonwealth Place on 31 March 2021. Photo by Lannon Harley.
Poets Corner 

AVIATOR  (they can’t be bloody serious)

11/06/202128/06/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 832 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

After 30 years in the RAAF, I thought I’d heard the lot And there are times I’m sure, someone has

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About CONTACT

Contact Publishing Pty Ltd is an independent veteran owned and operated Australian publishing business that curates this daily blog, a fortnightly newsletter and a quarterly magazine – only available by subscribing free (above).

editor@militarycontact.com

+61 (0)408 496 664

PO Box 3091
Minnamurra
NSW 2533
Australia

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