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CONTACT magazine

WWII

Leonard McLeod visits a memorial garden at Kokoda Army Barracks. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.
ADF People History Veterans 

Return to Canungra evokes memories of service

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1714 Views 0 Comments C-47 Dakota, Canungra, WWI, WWII

Despite watching his father die from respiratory problems after being gassed in WW1, a young Leonard McLeod was determined to

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World War 2 veteran Arthur Leggett returns the sporran badge to 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment. Story by Ray Galliott. Photo by Lt-Col Leigh Partridge.
ADF People History Veterans 

Adventures of a ‘souvenired’ sporran

07/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2837 Views 0 Comments 16th Battalion RWAR, WWII

After 87 years of unauthorised possession, travel and survival, Arthur Leggett OAM, a 103-year-old veteran of WW2 recently returned a

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Catafalque party members from No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit march from their post at the conclusion of the Battle of Britain commemoration ceremony at Torrens Parade Hall, Adelaide. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.
History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force 

Battle of Britain commemorated in Adelaide

05/10/202210/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2636 Views 0 Comments Air Force Cadets, Battle of Britain, No. 41 Wing, WWII

To mark the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Royal Australian Air Force and Air Force Association (South Australia)

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Army nursing officer Lieutenant Lorraine Cheesewright pays her respects at the grave of her great uncle, Corporal Frederick Cheesewright at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.
Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Videos 

Keeping Kokoda memory alive

27/09/202230/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1861 Views 0 Comments 16th Battalion RWAR, Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, WWII

Corporal Frederick Cheesewright’s new stripes were barely sewn to his uniform when a sniper’s bullet abruptly ended his life on

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Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Partridge, commanding officer of the 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment, lays a wreath during a dawn service commemorating 80 years since the start of the Battle of Brigade Hill, along the Kokoda Track, in Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.
Australian Army Lest We Forget News Videos 

Remembering Kokoda

23/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2881 Views 1 Comment 16th Battalion RWAR, 39th Operational Support Battalion, Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, WWII

Several events have been organised to mark the 80th year since the Kokoda Track Campaign in Papua New Guinea during

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Air Commodore Robert Lawson, Director-General of History and Heritage – Air Force, addresses family members and friends of Flight Sergeant Richard Hobbs, crew member of Catalina A24-50. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Sergeant Gary Dixon.
ADF People Lest We Forget 

Special Memorial for fallen airman’s family

07/09/202211/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1905 Views 1 Comment Aviation Heritage Centre, Catalina, WWII

A commemorative service was recently held at the Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth for the family members of Flight Sergeant

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WW2 veterans Harold “Hiram” Ristrom and Margaret Hattersley receive handmade quilts from the Quilts of Valour Foundation during a lunch held at the Bentleigh RSL, Victoria. Story by Corporal Melina Young. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.
History News Royal Australian Navy Veterans 

WW2 veterans honoured for valour

26/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1780 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kanimbla, RSL, WWII

Three World War 2 Navy veterans instrumental in supporting General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines, cracking enemy codes, and

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HMAS Canberra’s (III) Ships Company parade on the flight deck of during a commemorative service for 80th anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Sunset service for 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I)

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2047 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, WWII

Eighty years after HMAS Canberra (I) sank in the Battle of Savo Island, more than 500 members of HMAS Canberra (III)

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Mr Des Jones commemorates the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I) as the last remaining survivor, held at the Naval Chapel, Garden Island, Sydney. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo: byLeading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.
ADF People History Lest We Forget 

Commemorating the Battle of Savo Island

09/08/202209/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1852 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra (I), Solomon Islands, WWII

The last surviving crew member of HMAS Canberra (I), 99-year-old Des Jones, remembers how he narrowly escaped death when his

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Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.
ADF Lest We Forget News Pacific 

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2582 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence

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Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill and Sergeant Steven Banks, from the School of Armour, present WW2 veteran, 101-year-old Bertram (Bert) Sutton, with an Aussie Hero Quilt at his home in Numurkah, Victoria.
ADF People History Veterans 

WW2 veteran honoured with hero quilt

29/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2444 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, School of Armour, WWI, WWII

World War 2 veteran, Private Bertram (Bert) Sutton, has been honoured with the presentation of a hero quilt by the

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Commanding Officers of No. 460, 462 and 464 Squadrons, alongside World War Two veterans at the Bomber Command Commemorative Day Wreath Laying Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power.
History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force 

Modern Air Force pays respect to its heritage

08/06/202213/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2951 Views 0 Comments AWM, Bomber Command, WWII

Bomber Command was commemorated in ceremonies across the country where modern Royal Australian Air Force remembered the sacrifice made by

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Squadron Leader Michael Veitch and President of the No. 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighter Association Bruce Robertson at the No. 30 Squadron anniversary dinner. Story by By Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Petty Officer Rick Prideaux.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Former Beaufighters squadron turns 80

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2661 Views 0 Comments No. 30 Squadron, RAAF East Sale, WWII

It has been 80 years since Air Force’s No. 30 Squadron was established at RAAF Base Richmond before deploying to

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The Kuttabul ferry sinking in Sydney Harbour in May 1942. Story by Lieutenant Brendan Trembath.
History Japan Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy 

80th anniversary of submarine attack

03/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2971 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kuttabul, WWII

A memorial service at HMAS Kuttabul has commemorated the 27 lives lost in an Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarine attack

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Japanese Ambassador to Australia, Yamagami Shingo, lays a wreath during the Battle of Coral Sea 80th anniversary commemorative service at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg. Photo by Nicole Mankowski.
History Japan Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy USA 

Battle of the Coral Sea 80th anniversary

17/05/202217/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2378 Views 0 Comments Battle of the Coral Sea, HMAS Coonawarra, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, US Army, US Navy, WWII

The 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea was commemorated across Australia early this month. CAPTION: Japanese Ambassador

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Chief of Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld and Major General Mark Goina (right), Chief of Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shake hands after signing an aviation safety memorandum of understanding at Air Transport Wing in Port Moresby. Story by John Noble.
History News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

Helping restore air capability in PNG

06/05/202212/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2992 Views 0 Comments PNGDF, WWII

Australia is lending a helping hand in getting the air arm of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) back

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Air Force personnel who trained as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme in World War II have been depicted on murals commissioned as part of the Air Force 2021 Centenary at RAAF Base Wagga. Photo by Wing Commander Tony Wennerbom.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Wagga honours Empire Air Training role

18/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2703 Views 1 Comment RAAF Centenary, RAAF Wagga Wagga, WWII

A memorial honouring the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) is nearing completion at the entrance to RAAF Base Wagga, in

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Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus Captain Ainsley Morthorpe, centre, and Chaplain Matthew Campbell salute as Able Seaman Luke Glasson sounds the Last Post during the HMAS Yarra II commemorative service. Story by Commander Helen Ward. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.
History News Royal Australian Navy 

Sinking of HMAS Yarra II remembered

10/03/202210/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2476 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Yarra, WWII

Navy personnel recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of one of the darkest periods of WWII. CAPTION: Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus

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Post Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12163, James Maughmer, lays a wreath during a service held in Fremantle commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.
History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy 

Loss of HMAS Perth I remembered

04/03/202204/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1841 Views 1 Comment HMAS Perth I, Thai-Burma railway, WWII

HMAS Perth III visited Fremantle recently for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Perth I and

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Soldiers re-enact the Bombing of Darwin during an 80th anniversary commemorative ceremony in the Northern Territory. Story by Paul McAlonan. Photo by Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.
ADF History News 

The day WWII hit home

23/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2784 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, WWII

Ceremonies were held on February 19 to mark the 80th anniversary of the first attack on the Australian mainland. CAPTION:

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