ANZAC Day 2022

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 What does Anzac Day mean to me?? 

From my early days, my parents instilled in me a pride in my country and good old respect for my family.  Both Mum and Dad served during World War 2.  My grandfathers both served during World War 1 and both played a part in World War 2.  Strangely I don't remember any of them talking about their war experiences.  Perhaps the traumas were too close for them!

My mother's brothers - Jack, Bill and Harold (Hocka), all served in WW2 as did my father's siblings- Amelia (Micky) and Edward (Ted). 


Patricia Joan Wilson
                   

                   PATRICIA JOAN WILSON

                    DOB  11/9/1924  -  7/7/2013

                                       WW2

                                   NF462701

           Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS)

                 Enlisted 1943  -  Demobbed 1945



My mother rarely missed an Anzac Day march in Sydney and the following get together with her AWAS colleagues.  As attending became difficult for her, my brother and sister and I made it a priority to get her into Hyde Park to gather with the AWAS and perform the march up George.  The photo on the right is Mum in the 2013 March in Forster (4 months before she died).  








         ROBERT JOHN BRUDUS ROMERIL

               DOB 22/11/1923 – 23/11/1981

                              VX116139

             67 AASL Coy (Australian Army)

          Enlisted 1942 – demobbed 1945

 




Robert John Brudus Romeril (on left)


Dad enrolled on 30 September 1942.  

He listed his DOB as 22 April 1922 (and his age as 20 years and 5 months).  He was in fact 18 years and 10 months).  

He listed his Rank as Lance Corporal Unit 67 Aust AASL (Australian Army Search Lights), and served in New Guinea, Townsville and Newcastle.

As kids we often asked him questions about the war.  His answers were always fanciful and we never heard the truth.  He had a gunshot wound on his arm and it was years later we learned it was a smallpox scar!









JOHN JAMES CHARLES WILSON

                      DOB 1892 – 1973

                                 WW1

                                10014

              9th Field Company Engineers

                   Military Medal (1918)

            Enlisted 1916 – Demobbed 1919

                                WW2

                            N273373

                 P.O.W. Group (Cowra)

         Enlisted 1941 – Demobbed 1947


WILSON, John James Charles, Private

                                 (10014), 10th Field Company, Australian Engineers

 Near Tailloux Wood on 8/8/18.  For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  Whilst accompanying his Section Officer on a reconnaissance of a road for artillery immediately behind the assaulting troops, they met a party of 20 Germans with a machine gun.  It was greatly dur (sic) to the coolness and courage of this N.C.O. that his Officer was able to take the whole party prisoner.  L/Cpl Wilson had rushed the gun and wounded one of the party.  The Second Officer was the (sic) able to proceed with his reconnaissance.  This N.C.O. afterwards led his squad onto the most distant part of the road setting excellent example throughout, thus greatly assisting in making road passable for artillery by 1 ½ hours after zero, which was the times period.  (London Gazette 24/1/1919 p1254)


JJC Wilson and his sons and daughter who also served


My maternal grandfather served in both World Wars - He won the Military Medal in 1918 and was a guard at the Cowra Interment Camp in the second World War.  I have a note book of his time at Cowra with newspaper articles detailing that he was held in high regard by the people in the camp as he held many concerts to entertain them.



  

       ROBERT WILLIAM ROMERIL

               DOB 3/7/1887 – 12/1/1967

                                WW1

                                   51 

    1-Fld.Artillery Brigade (Gallipoli 1915-1916)

           Enlisted 1914 – Demobbed 1919

                                WW2

                              V81005

             12th Australian Garrison Company

                 Enlisted 1939 – Demobbed 1945       


  

Robert William Romeril and two of his sons who also served

Like my father, my paternal grandfather was silent on his service.  I also have had no success in obtaining photographs of his service.

I have obtained his records from the National Archives of Australia and I don't think he would be happy at his granddaughter having access to his exploits in Europe.  He was a most private man.He landed on Gallipoli on 15 May 1915 and evacuated in December 1915.  I can't imagine what he experienced.




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