Signals info Sheet – v10 (2 Feb 2008) Page 1

SIGNALS INFORMATION SHEET

40TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS BATTLES OF CORAL and BALMORAL

12 to 14 May 2008

Introduction This information sheet asks for information from you for planning purposes for the 40th anniversary of the Battles of Coral/Balmoral and provides information on what events and activities are to be held to commemorate the battles. Events and Activities The events and activities to commemorate the battle will be held in both Canberra and Townsville. All events and activities are open to Coral/Balmoral veterans and their partners. The program is based around two All Corps National events in Canberra, a number of Royal Australian Artillery activities in Canberra, 1 RAR Group activities in Townsville and 3 RAR Group activities in Canberra.

National All Corps Events (Includes Signals) 7 pm, 12 May 2008 National Reception. Australian War Memorial (AWM) or if large number attending, Great Hall Parliament House 10 am, 13 May 2008 Remembrance Service, Vietnam Memorial, ANZAC Parade.

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Other Corps Event – Canberra (Includes Signals) HQ 1ATF including D&E Pl, Engineers, Signals, 161 Recce Sqn, TFMA and others 6:30 pm, 13 May 2008 Other Corps Commemorative Dinner, Ainslie Football and Social Club

For additional information on the other group activities, contact the following: Armour – Gerry McCormack (gandgmcc@bigpond.net.au) Artillery – Rob Costello (0409-432346 or coddie0102@bigpond.com) 1RAR Bn Group – Garry Prendergast (02-62424818 or pepev@internode.on.net 3RAR Bn Group – John Robbins (02-62901948 or jrmercadier@icanberra.com.au) Other Units – Laurie Bird (02-49548248 or birds_12@optusnet.com.au) Attendance Please fill out the attached Proforma (Page 5) and return it to Signals Coral/Balmoral Subcommittee by 31 January 2008 to ensure your Government invitation (*): It would also assist if attending the dinner on the 13th May 2008 that monies ($23 per head) also be paid by the 31 January 2008. Cheques/postal notes should be made out to “104 Signal Squadron Reunion” (+) and returned to: Signals Coral/Balmoral Subcommittee C/- Denis Hare PO Box 210 Collingwood Park Qld 4301 (*) DVA requires attendance information by mid February so formal invitations from the Government can be sent out for the National Reception on 12 May 2008. (+) 104 Signal Squadron Reunion committee has agreed to allow its bank account to be used saving us the problems of setting up another special account. Additional Information Signals Coral/Balmoral Subcommittee Signals Subcommittee has been setup, as follows: Denis Hare 07-38188021 (104 Sig Sqn) dhare@au104.org Ken Short 07-38880111 (110 Sig Sqn) No email available Peter Murray 02-62394722 (547 Sig Tp) pmurray@netspeed.com.au Neil Horn 02-61612706 (RASigs Assoc ACT) nlcmh@webone.com.au Costs Dinner on the 13 May is the only cost at this stage. Other activities are totally funded by the government. Cost will be $23 per head as the Government will be sponsoring the dinner at $15 per head for each Veteran and their partner.

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Note: $3 per head will remain with the Signals Coral/Balmoral Subcommittee to cover admin costs, name tags, postage, etc. Accommodation Accommodation is your responsibility and with up to 900 veterans and their families expected in Canberra during the celebrations, accommodation will be an issue if left to the last minute. The following is recommended, if within your budget, as a number of Signals Veterans have already booked: Olims Hotel Ph:1800-475337 (Signals Group Booking Reference ID:VV110508) Canberra South Motor Park Ph:02-6280 6176 Canberra Tourism for other options Ph:02-62050044 Special Signals Web Site Special web site for Signals with accommodation and other info plus photos from the battle at:

http://coral-balmoral.au104.org Signals Veteran List The list on pages 7 and 8 of the Signals Veterans involved in the battle and their trade, we believe. We have not been able to locate the following Veterans: 1732688 James Lawson (Jimmy) CRIGHTON (Radio Op) - Last locstat Ipswich, QLD 37817 Francis ELRINGTON (104 Lt) - Last locstat Mildura. VIC 216606 Michael Gregory EVANS (104 Line) – Last locstat Yarramundi, NSW 37360 Leslie Stuart (Les) DOUGLAS (104 Sigcen) - Last locstat Pakenham, VIC 1200768 Alan James (Thomo) THOMSON (104 Tech) – Last locstat Bald Hills, QLD If you know their contact details or believe someone is missing from the attached list, please contact a subcommittee member ASAP. NOK Guests NOK of the 25 Australians KIA at the Battle of Coral/Balmoral will be invited to attend the Commemorations. We have contacted the family of Signalman Alex Young KIA at FSPB Coral on the 16 May 1968 and are arranging with DVA for an invitation to the NOK to attend as our guest. VIP Guests Signals will be allowed two VIP guests and the subcommittee will be making arrangements in the near future on behalf of the attending veterans.

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Attendance Proforma - Events and Activities (Complete and return by 31 January 2008

to ensure your Government invitation) Personal Information (Print Clearly): Surname: Christian Name: Partner’s Name: Vietnam Signals Unit: 104 Sig Sqn [ ], 110 Sig Sqn [ ] or 547 Sig Tp [ ] (Tick one) Contact Details: Address: Phone No: Mobile No: Email: Canberra Accommodation Details (If known, for transport arrangements): Special Requirements: Please advise any special arrangements, wheelchair access, diet, etc. Date/Time Event No

Attending

Cost Require Bus Tpt

(Tick one)

Comments

YES NO 11 May 08 2-4 PM

Signals Meet and Greet, Olims Hotel

Nil N/A N/A Self funding

12 May 08 7 PM

National Reception. Australian War Memorial (AWM)

Nil Funded by Government via DVA

13 May 08 10 AM

Remembrance Service, Vietnam Memorial, ANZAC Parade

Nil Army march pass with colours

13 May 08 6.30 PM

Small Group Dinners, Ainslie Football Club

Own Cost

Arranged by the Unit representative – Costs $23 per head (Includes $3 signals admin fee)

I have enclosed cheque/Postage note for $ to cover costs for dinner on the 13th May 2008 and have indicated the other events I (and partner if applicable) will attend. Signature:………………………. Date: Return to: Signals Coral/Balmoral Subcommittee C/- Denis Hare, PO Box 210, Collingwood Park Q 4301

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BLANK PAGE

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List of Names of RASigs at FSPB Coral (Balmoral) 104 Sig Sqn Advanced Party/Step-Up Station (By Chinook – 12 May 1968) Maj Norm Munro – OC (Maj) – Also at Balmoral L/Cpl John (Suitcase) Koosache (WIA – 16 May) – Radio Operator Sig Phillip (Phil) Clohesy – Radio Operator Sig Rowan (Stretch) Gamble (WIA – 13 May) - Linesman Sig Terrence (Rocky) Rochester – Linesman Sig Anthony (Bum) Aikman – Driver/Batman - Deceased Main Body (By Chinook and Road 13 May) Capt Graham Arnold – 2IC W02 Ron (Bluey) Still - SSM Lt Frank Elrington - 2Lt Admin Officer Sgt Lawrence (Gunna) Cunneen - Sgt Commcon (Code for TF Comd) Sgt Scott (Scotty) Laycock – Sgt Q Lt Ken Twining – Lt Radio Tp Comd Sgt Max Hardy – Radio Tp Sgt Sgt John Taylor – Radio Sgt Sig Ian Crosthwaite (WIA – 16 May) – Radio Operator Sig Ken Greenwood – Radio Operator Sig James (Jimmy) Crighton – Radio Operator Cpl Allan Lohrisch – Radio Operator (TF CP) Sig Bernard Gibson – Radio Operator (TF CP) Sig John Baum – Radio Operator (TF CP) Sgt David Thompson – Line Sgt Sig Michael Evans – Linesman Cpl Leslie Douglas – Comcen L/Cpl Malcolm (Mal) Fegusson – Comcen (Radio Op) Sig Hugh (Scottie) Hutton - Comcen Sig Ralph Bilsby - Comcen Cpl Tassie Dell – Cook Sig Stanley (Monty) Montefiore – TG Mech Sig Alan (Thomo)Thomson – Tech Elec Sig Patrick (Pat) Kiely – Driver Sig Alan (Bally) Ball – Driver Sig Robert (Bob) Lowick – GD W02 Mick Moylan – F of S - Deceased Sgt Sidney (Danny) Kaye – Sgt Comcen - Deceased Cpl Harold (Harry) Hope – Comcen - Deceased Sig Alex Young (KIA – 16 May) – Linesman - Deceased Sig Robert Ezzy – Linesman - Deceased Sig Ken (Blue) McDonald – Radio Operator – Deceased (Part of John Koosache Radio Det) Sig John Glazebrook - Deceased Replacement/Additional (shortly time after 16 May) Cpl Denis (Rabbit) Hare – Draughtsman Cpl Dennis (George) Donohue – Radio Operator Sig Ken Cox – Radio Operator (TF CP) Sig Malcolm (Mal) Bennett – Linesman Sig Robert (Huey) James – Linesman Sig Rodney (Rod) Palin – Linesman Pte Wally Wojciechowski – Cook

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104 with other Units 1RAR Radio Det (Deployed to FSPB Coral) Cpl Rod Lumb – Radio Operator (Det Comd) Sig Robert (Bob) Parkyns – Radio Operator Sig Kevin Smith – Radio Operator Sig Robert (Rob) Rowe – Radio Operator 3RAR Radio Det (Deployed to FSPB Coral to FSPB Coogee and then FSPB Balmoral) Cpl Bob Ellis – Radio Operator (Det Comd) – Medevac Sig Tom Spring – Radio Operator Sig Gordon Robertson – Radio Operator Sig David Ellis – Radio Operator Sig Gordon Sanderson – Radio Operator (David and Gordon came in a few days after the deployment) Engineer Det (Two confirmed with 1 Fd Sqn by George Hulse – Names?) 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight (Based at Phu Loi) David Tiernan – Radio Operator Others ? VHF Retrans Bearcat ? Radio Operator to hold bridges for tanks Sig Peter (Rosie) Thorne – Radio Operator (22/23 May 1968 with 3 Cav) Armour LO Radio Operator Sig Peter Liddle – Radio Operator (With US Army at Supporting FSPB – (Armored Officer (LO), Private plus Peter) 547 Sig Tp (By Air) First Det (Inserted by Air deployment) Sgt Jim Brill – (Det Comd) – Deceased? Sgt Fred Hawkes Cpl Tom Williams - (Int Corp) Second Det (Replaced First Team by Air after 5 days) Sgt Ken Trewatha - (Det Comd) L/Cpl Snowy Turner - Deceased Cpl John Hunter (Int Corp) LO’s (In/out number of times) Maj Peter Murray – OC Capt Steve Zagon 110 Sig Sqn (Road with Main Body) RR Det Cpl Malcolm (Mal) Stevens – RR Det Comd Sig John McDonald - Tech Elec Barry Sullivan - Deceased Sgt Ray McIntosh - RR Tp Sgt – Help get RR Det Setup

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HF RATT Det Cpl Trever Chell – Det Comd Sig Ken Short – OKR (Replacement because someone got sick after 2-3 days) Sig Robert (Smokey) Dawson Sig David Cockrane– Deceased (Medevac ?) LO (By Air) S/Sgt Graham (Doc) Orchard (Delivered codes to FSPB Coral)