Tommy Reynolds is a well known local who has been involved in many community and sporting organisations and is an active member of the Nambucca Heads Bowling Club.
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You will often see Tommy when you visit Woolworths Nambucca Heads where he has been working for 20 years.
A few months ago, a mate of Tommy’s, Gilbert ‘Wally’ Wallbank, noted that for many years Tommy had been proudly marching on ANZAC Day. Wally, who is a veteran, knew that Tommy had not served in the Armed Services and asked Tommy what motivated him to march.
Tommy told Wally that he marches in memory of his grandfather, Reginald Dunlop, who had served in World War II (WW2).
Wally conducted some research and found that Reginald had served with distinction during WW2. He enlisted in 1939, was promoted to Sergeant within a year and served in the Middle East and participated in the evacuation of Greece in 1941. He was ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ for gallantry while in Ceylon.
Reginald Dunlop was reported missing in action twice, once in the Middle East and once in Ceylon and after being commissioned to the rank of lieutenant, went on to serve in New Guinea and the Pacific.
Wally noticed that Tommy did not march with his grandfather’s medals as these were lost or stolen many years ago. Wally and another of Tommy’s mates, Dennis Lane, both members of the Nambucca Heads RSL Sub Branch, thought that it would be great if they could replace these medals with replicas for Tommy to wear when he marched.
Wally and Dennis approached the Sub Branch members and asked if they would support the purchase of these medals. The RSL Sub Branch voted unanimously in favour of this and on last Tuesday (26th) the President of the Nambucca Heads RSL Sub Branch, David Stephenson, presented Tommy with a replica set of his grandfathers medals.
Tommy recalls what a great man his grandfather was and that it was Reginald who had brought he and his Mum, Barbara from Western Australia when Tommy was a boy for a better life here in the Nambucca Valley. After the war Reginald went to work on the main roads.
Tommy says that he will always be grateful to his grandfather for moving him to the Nambucca Valley where he and his wife Kristine have raised two children. Next time you see Tommy on ANZAC Day you will know that he marches in memory of a great Australian, his grandfather Reginald Robert Dunlop.
About the author: Mick Birtles is a recently retired army officer now living in Nambucca Heads. During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership. Here he shares his interest in the issues effecting veterans on the Mid North Coast.
Do you have a story to share about a family member who served during the war? Get in touch with us here.