At the Nambucca Heads ANZAC Day gathering newly-elected RSL sub-branch president David Stephenson noted that 2018 is a big year when it comes to remembering conflicts in which Australians have fought and died.
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“It is the centenary of the Armistice for World War One on November 11, but before that we have the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic on May 1 and the 50th anniversary of the battles of fire support bases Coral and Balmoral (Vietnam) on May 13,” Mr Stephenson said.
“The 65th anniversary of the Korean Armistice is on July 27 plus it is the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Thai Burma Railway and the work of the Australians at Hellfire Pass – that is on October 16.”
The Guardian News ran into Vietnam vet, Bob Wilson, of the 1RAR on Tuesday and he too spoke of the battles of the two fire support bases.
“They were possibly the biggest and the bloodiest battles of that war, yet they are not spoken about,” Mr Wilson said.
“There were 26 killed and 130 wounded – today (ANZAC Day) all those memories are with me and around me.”
His voice had an unsteady note.
The scars of war run deep, even if they cannot be seen on the surface.
Nambucca resident Tim King served in Iraq and saw active service on the eve of ANZAC Day 14 years ago.
This year was the first time he could face coming to the ANZAC Day service.
We honour all of you who live with the memories of war and its horrors.