All augurs well for a busy, positive and historic 2017 year for the Association and its members.
Early planning and liaison has been instigated by your Committee for two major events. First is ANZAC Day in Brisbane and Sydney on Tuesday, 25 April and then, the 75th Anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign.
The anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign is to be celebrated at Cascade Gardens Memorial on the Gold Coast on the morning of Tuesday, 8 August. Our patron, Major-General Howard AO MC ESM, will address the ceremony, particularly confirming the significance in our military history of the Kokoda Campaign in 1942. In this campaign, the PIB played a most significant part which culminated in victory against the invading Japanese army.
All Association members and relatives are most welcome to participate in the events outlined above.
Major Donald Graham
Our Association will march again in this year’s Brisbane and Sydney ANZAC Day Marches.
Phil Adam
Our Brisbane Representative, Phil Adam, has attended the official ANZAC Day Coordinating Committee meeting on February 14 and advises that our participation in the march will now follow the pattern of the previous years. Our thanks to Phil for his advocacy here regarding issues connected with this March.
Those interested in joining the Association Members in the Sydney March are again invited to contact Peter Porteous via pporteous@optusnet.com.au
Sydney marchers will assemble in the usual location and it is hoped that W.O. Jock Wilkinson (PIB, NGIB) will again lead the Banner, servicemen and families.
As our President indicated earlier, the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign will be held at the Rotary Kokoda Memorial Wall at Cascade Gardens in Broadbeach, Gold Coast.
This event will also be a Reunion for our members and partners and the program of events is listed below:
- 7 August: Dinner at Surfers Paradise RSL Club (Beach Road, Surfers Paradise)
- 8 August: 10.30, Commemoration Service at Cascade Gardens
- 8 August: 12.00, Reunion Lunch at the Surfers Paradise RSL Club
All are invited to attend these activities.
Former PIR Servicemen with Major General Hon. M. Jeffery, Broadbeach 2015.
President Don has informed us that David Yardley, the artist and sculptor who created the Cascade Gardens Memorial, will be in attendance. Don is to introduce him to the group and present him with Life Membership of the Association.
VISIT TO MOEM BARRACKS – 2RPIR – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!
During a cruise to PNG in February this year, three former PNG Education Corps ‘Chalkies’ and their partners obtained an invite to visit 2RPIR at Moem Barracks, initially thanks to Terry Edwinsmith’s contacts. After arranging our own local transport (an adventure in itself) to the Barracks, we were very well received by Lt Col Yapu and staff. (Sgt) Peter Suna had spent his time in PNG at 2PIR in 1966-67 . The PNG soldiers were interested to see photos of, and discuss life in, Wewak pre-Independence and then an Army 4×4, driver and a Corporal as guide were put at our disposal to visit the site of the old Barracks and also tour the new area.
The quality of the officers and soldiers we met was impressive starting with the quietly understated leadership style of Lt Col Yapu. This mirrored the strategy in place to only accept recruits with Year 12 education and to gradually lower the overall average age of the armed forces. As in Taurama Barracks, it was evident that additional funds could be made available for building maintenance and road infrastructure, however we all came away with a very positive outlook for 2RPIR and the officers and soldiers making it operate.
A special thanks goes to Lt Colonel Yapu for his hospitality.
Kev Horton (Hon Sec/Treas PIB-NGIB-HQ-PIR Assn)
Some photos below: Click the photo to enlarge it.
 Lt Col Raphael Yapu, Peter Suna, Kev Horton, Terry Edwinsmith at 2RPIR HQ |
 Army driver and guide gave us a great tour of the old and new barracks areas |
 Peter Suna near the original barracks position |
 2 RPIR Sergeants’ Mess |
 Barrack Buildings are the late 1960s style |
 OR’s Married Quarters were well kept. |
The Australian War Memorial will mark the 75th Anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign during 2017 in several ways. The AWM is willing to honour one Second World War Officer, Lt Arthur Auchter Smith (Papuan Infantry Battalion) during its Last Post Ceremony on 28 August 2017 so long as sufficient information about him can be found.
We are asking if you can help the Association to find information about the civilian life of Arthur Smith, including an adult photo. We already have Unit information on his Kokoda Campaign service in the weeks leading up to his capture and execution by the Japanese Army on 28 August 1942. We are lacking information on Arthur Smith’s life before he enlisted. The Official History provides the briefest biography details: born in Brisbane on 23 December 1920; occupation of Truck Driver; lived at Balmoral, Brisbane.
We would be very grateful for any information or leads you can offer e.g. what School(s) did he attend? did he get married? did he have children?
Please contact Greg Ivey via IVEYGJ@GMAIL.COM
Editor: Ian Ogston ( ozoggies2@gmail.com)
Thanks to all those (Don, Kev, Greg, Phil) who have contributed to this edition of ‘Armi Nius’.