Below is a heart touching letter from Prisoner of War Corporal James (Jim) Fittock to his wife and family. He was registered with No 3. Branch Thai War Prisoners Camp. Nike, Thailand. The letter was required to be passed through ‘censorship’ prior to being posted. Over 22,000 Australians became prisoners of war of the Japanese […]
The letter below was written by Florence (Floss) Lorraine Beever, President of the Queensland AWAS that met regularly at Currumbin RSL. The images that coincide include its members. “I always wanted to join the army as my father was in the 8th Light Horse in World Ward 1. So my brother and I joined in […]
Australia Remembers Frances (Betty) Dolan & Phyllis Renwick speaking in this video about the Women’s Axillary association and their involvement. Betty’s husband was an ex-servicemen and interested in starting a subbranch RSL Club in Currumbin. A few year’s after the Sub Branch was running, it was decided to form a Women’s Axillary to support the […]
In this video, Mr Gordon Laing shares his memories about Veterans protecting Australia from the planned attack by Japan on Townsville in 1942. The Japanese planned an attack on Port Moresby. They were scheduled to attack Port Moresby in the first week in May 1942. Following the invasion of Port Moresby, six Japanese aircraft carriers […]
The Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) was formed via authorisation of the government in 1941. It was formed to “release men from certain military duties for employment in fighting units”. In this video, Lyn, Norma and Raie share their stories of war as an AWAS. This video was taken at the QueenslandAWAS association’s last meeting […]
Ron joined the RAAF as an apprentice in 1955. He qualified and eventually served with the RAAF as a No 35 Squadron Caribou aircraft Loadmaster in the Vietnam War in 1965. He was chosen to be a member of the Australian Armed Forced Colour Party, which was sent to France in 1968 for the 50th […]
The Carr Family came to Australia in 1925. Mr and Mrs Carr traveled with seven children to Australia with another three born in Australia. Out of the ten children, five males and one female wanted to support Australia and signed up for WW11. They all served in various roles, were proud courageous Australians. Unfortunately all […]
ANZAC Day is held April 25th, yearly. For 20 years, Currumbin RSL has held an ANZAC Day Dawn Service which has developed over time to become an iconic Queensland Event with a national audience. From humble beginnings the event has grown and matured to a well know service held at Elephant Rock, Currumbin and resulting […]
On 24TH May 1969, in Kontum Province, Warrant Officer Payne was Commanding 212th Company of 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion when the battalion was attacked by a North Vietnamese force of superior strength. Under this heavy attack the indigenous soldiers began to fall back. Directly exposing himself to the enemy’s fire, Warrant Officer Payne, through […]
The battle of Milne Bay is considered to be the first in the Pacific campaign in which allied troops decisively defeated Japanese land forces. In August 1942 Japanese naval troops under estimated the predominately Australian Garrison Artillery. One of the Australian Garrison Artillery men was 19-year-old Louis ‘Bluey’ smith. Now 90, Louis is the last […]
