by Ray Payne

DASHER WHEATLEY VC – By Bill Charlton

DASHER WHEATLEY VC
Over the years I see the stories appear
Of our own Dasher Wheatley the man with no fear.
And it’s true to say he was one of a kind.
A true a mate as any soldier could find.
‘Like a tank on the grog!’ I heard a mate say.
Few of us could imagine him in any other way.
But saying all that he was disciplined and skilled
This was sometimes offset by his being strong-willed.
Anyone who opposed him was in for a fight.
His endurance was legendary, his condition just right.
He showed strength that amazed, would never show fear
Was respected by all, especially his peers.
But beneath this facade was a soldier who cared,
For the men in his team and the rest of us there.
He was a legend, from the start of day one.
It did not surprise us when his VC was won.
Dasher was a leader and no quarter was asked.
He showed no emotion, his face was a mask.
But if he gave an order and it wasn’t done well
There’d be no doubt that he would raise hell.
He was a larrikin soldier always good for a joke
But men listened carefully whenever he spoke
This man was the leader you would follow to hell
Every soldier was shattered the day that he fell.
Men shook their heads, it could not be believed
A mistake had been made, we had all been deceived.
We had thought him invincible – we came back to earth.
All men are vulnerable – despite their great worth!
But Dasher left a legacy that stands true today.
Duty First was his motto when he went away.
And he stood by his principles when all appeared lost.
Regardless the outcome, regardless the cost!
BillCharlton c 2018
in All News 1 comments
 by Ray Payne

Oh for the days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships!

Oh for the days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships!

I have noted all Officers and ratings who failed to ship the lanyard when using their binoculars. [I can hear RADM Guy Griffiths now!] Disciplinary action will be enforced [punishment, at least 14 days Jankers! and…just to maintain discipline, we could throw in some Kit Musters and have SCB ‘Tid’ Carter, carry out the kit inspections]

‘Men under punishment and… all the CDA Mess, Fall In in the Canteen Flat’!

Regards,
Ralph Wollmer

 

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 by Ray Payne

Armed crook the ‘worst kind of evil human’ 

  • Karen Sweeney

Armed and dressed in military-style clothing, Tony Wittman held a woman hostage to get his cat back.

A former soldier blamed post traumatic stress disorder caused in part by two army tours in Afghanistan for holding a woman hostage in an attempt to get his cat back.

Armed with an assault weapon and dressed in full military-style clothing, Tony Wittman held the young woman at gunpoint as she showed up for a late-night shift at the Melbourne Lost Dogs Home.

Bailey Scarlett initially believed, because of his militaristic appearance, that he was legitimately there and that something had happened in the area.

Then he told her “if you do as I say and listen to me, I won’t shoot you”.

Wittman, 45, claimed his unhinged actions were the result of his desperation to get back the cat that had helped him through episodes of post traumatic stress disorder, itself the result of 16 years in the Australian Army.

He claimed to police he had been to East Timor and Afghanistan twice each, and to Aceh after the Boxing Day Tsunami.

But Australian Defence Force records show he was a reservist for just two days shy of two years between 1995 and 1997, discharged for failure to provide efficient service.

“You really are the worst kind of evil human that makes the newspaper headlines today,” Ms Scarlett told Wittman on Wednesday.

She questioned why he would inflict a diagnosis of PTSD on another person, as he had done to her.

“You came prepared for war, and a war against a totally defenceless animal welfare carer,” she said.

“All of this over something I was not responsible for.”

Wittman had made an appointment for January 12 last year to pick up his cat from the home, but decided the night before that he couldn’t wait.

He went at 8pm, two hours after the home closed to the public. He later went back at 10.30pm as Ms Scarlett arrived for work.

Wittman demanded to know where the cats were kept and after Ms Scarlett said she didn’t have keys for the cat he demanded she get on her knees.

He cable tied her hands behind her back and told her to count to 100 before calling for help.

“I’m going to close this door, if I see you, I’ll shoot you,” he told her.

A cleaner had seen the initial events unfolding, but like Ms Scarlett assumed Wittman was an official.

Ms Scarlett waited five minutes before calling for help. By that time Wittman had fled. He dumped his military-style vest and weapons including a tomahawk and imitation flash bangs in bushland.

The following day he kept his appointment to pick up the cat.

He initially denied any involvement but after police confirmed he lied in an official statement he admitted what he’d done, claiming he had a “brain meltdown”.

Wittman pleaded guilty to five charges including false imprisonment, aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, and perjury.

County Court Judge Duncan Allen will sentence Wittman on Friday.

Australian Associated Press

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 by Ray Payne

Moving Forward

G’day Team,
Our great mate and First Tour Veteran, Bill Williams has been our 1 RAR Association representative and POC in Victoria for many years. Bill has decided to pass the baton on to the younger generation after long and loyal service to 1 RAR and our Association. We wholeheartedly thank Bill for everything he has done for us and the veteran community, his knowledge of our history and his understanding of DVA, TPI and other organisations is second to none… thanks mate for everything.
Phil Hodgskiss has kindly stepped up to offer his services as Bill’s replacement, Hodgo is a great bloke and good operator and is the type of younger veteran we need to continue to move forward as an Association. The Hawthorn RSL has kindly offered their club up as a meeting place for 1 RAR veterans and will also secure our banner. I won’t steal any of Phil’s thunder but I’m sure he will keep us all advised on the Melbourne ANZAC DAY March and other future events.
Welcome Phil, looking forward to working closely with you.
Andrew Clinkaberry
Secretary
1 RAR Association
in Association 1 comments
 by Ray Payne

Vale – 38756 WO1 Theodorus (Ted) Hendricus Mathiam Maria Boltong 14th Sept 45 – 22nd Feb 22

On 22nd February 2022 I said goodbye to a wonderful and dear friend and today I am sharing this very sad and painful news with you. Ted was not only my friend of many years but someone that I admired and looked up to.

Ted was a Vietnam Veteran who, after discharging from the ARA, joined the Reserve at 7 Field Engineer Regiment (Ringwood) rising through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) with 2 RSM appointments one being at 7th Engineer Support Regiment (7 ERS) and the other 3rd Recruit Training Battalion (3 TRG Gp) retiring in 2000 after 37 years of military service.

Without doubt Ted was the ultimate and professional soldier who would not accept second best in any aspect of his life and that included both his civilian and military life.

Many reading this email would know Ted for his friendly, easy-going approach which rubbed off onto so many others around him – nothing seemed to rattle him.

I have pondered long and hard how to write this email to convey to you all just what a wonderful person we have said goodbye to but try as I might nothing is working for me and I am still completely numb trying to comprehend the suddenness of Ted’s passing and the fact he will no longer be a physical presence in my life.

Ted was a husband, father, grandfather, golfer, friend, mentor and Veteran who is survived by his wife Maria, children (Trevor and Anna), family and a large group of friends. Our deepest sympathy and condolences are extended to all.

In 2016 I helped write an article on Ted which appeared in our Sapper Summit magazine and I am attaching it so that you will be able to understand just what an amazing person he was. I think this article explains everything so take a minute to read it. Remember it was written some years back.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalized but will be as per the family notice

Farewell, my dear friend – you have left a void in my life that will not be filled and I will miss you and our catch ups so very much

You have fulfilled your duty to your country well and truly above that expected of anyone and now you deserve the rest.

Rest in Peace

Ubique

Jim Davis.

in Death & Funerals 0 comments
 by Ray Payne

ANZAC DAY – NAVY INVITATION

VENDETTA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION (QLD) 
ABN 84 392 054 561 
www.vendettaveterans.com.au 
 
​Newsletter – 30/2022 
 
Hello Shipmates, 
With the past 12 months of uncertainty, the 2022 Brisbane ANZAC Day is definitely 
on and back to normal.    We all look forward to us all getting back together and 
taking the time to remember the good times and reflect. 
 
2022 saw the passing of the last known WW2 crew member of HMAS Vendetta on 
16 January 2022.  Mick Alcock served on Vendetta in the New Guinea area and 
escort duty in the latter period of the war. 
 
To the best of my recollect, the first time I met Mick was in 1998 at the first All Crews 
National Vendetta Reunion in Brisbane.  Mick was among a group of 12 WW2 
veterans who came to that Brisbane reunion.   Those 12 Vendetta crew members 
had not seen each other for many years, and they talked all day.   Mick was a Stores 
Assistant on Vendetta and it just so happened on that day that there was another 
Stores Assistant who served on Vendetta from 1939 – 1941, Gordon Hill.    Mick & 
Gordon hit it off straight away and remained in contact with each other till Gordon’s 
passing in 2018. 
 
ANZAC Day in Brisbane this year the NAVY first off and is in Group 3.   Those 
planning to attend the march there are a couple of things you need to be aware of: 
 
a.NAVY will step off 1005 this year.   You need to be at our forming up area by 
no later than 0930.   You will be able to find us in William Street (back where 
we normally form up) facing North Quay from around 0900.   The banner will 
be up in William Street near the Queen Victoria Park. 
 
b.Full size medals only to be worn – No miniatures.   The RAS badge is not to 
be worn at the same time as medals. 
 
c.All financial members have been issued with Association name badges.  
Please wear your name badges.   It is expected that if you don’t wear your
​1 name badge then the Association is given a gold coin donation. 
 
d.The Parade Marshalls have requested that only veterans should march in the 
parade.   If a veteran requires a carer then one (1) carer may march with the 
veteran.   The squad leader has the discretion to determine who can and 
cannot join the group during the march. 
 
e.Veterans    accompanied    by    children    as    carers    are    to    march    at    the    rear    of    the 
squad.        Children    are    to    be    at    the    back    of    the    squad    allowing    veterans    to    form 
the   front   ranks   of   the   squad. 
 
f.Veterans and carers must wear covered footwear.   No sandals or thongs are 
to be worn on parade. 
 
g.BCC buses will be rotating from 0830 – 1030 with pick-up points at Roma 
Street Station, Queens Park and Elizabeth Street to take participants to the 
marshalling area. 
 
h.All public transport on Anzac Day is free to veterans.    Wear your medals so 
the inspectors can pick you out easily. 
 
ANZAC DAY 2022 
 
 
0950 AM                 FALL IN FOR MARCH on WILLIAM STREET facing 
                               NORTH QUAY. 
 
 
AFTER MARCH     LUNCH & ANNUAL GET TOGETHER 
      Ship Inn 
      Stanley St & Sidon St 
      South Brisbane  
     (Suggest a ferry may be the best way to get to Southbank) 
 
COST                     No set charges – pay as you go. 
 
WIVES, PARTNERS & FAMILIES ARE WELCOME 
TO ATTEND THE LUNCH 
 
 
    FOR TABLE BOOKINGS PLEASE RSVP BEFORE Monday, 18 April 2022 
 
                             PHONE:    07.3288.1702 or 0417.700.531 
                             E-MAIL:     [email protected] 
 
                            
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS ARE DUE ON ANZAC DAY 
$5.00 WW2 VETERANS – $10.00 ALL OTHERS 
​2 
 
 
 
 
 
in Navy 1 comments