Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

They shall grow not old

Cold day, warm applause

Col Helen Adamson (rtd) leads the RAANC contingent in the Anzac Day march in Canberra. She is escorted by Head of Corps Lt-Col Beverley Wright with Lt-Col Paul Adams (rtd) behind. The RAANC banner is held by OC A Coy ARTC Maj Browyn Wheeler, left, and WO2 Norma Hinchcliffe, Defence Safety Managment Agency. Photo by Alan Porritt/AAP

Soldiers at rest on arms in the catafalque party during the Dawn Service held at ASNHQ in the Middle East. US and British troops attended and later joined the Australians for a Gunfire Breakfast of coffee laced with rum and a demonstration game of two-up.

By David Sibley

Two of the Army’s oldest corps led the Anzac Day march in Canberra, signifying the key role they have played over the past 100 years.

A strong contingent of former and present RAAMC and RAANC members stood patiently and proudly on Anzac Parade in the heart of the national capital awaiting the order to quick march.

Leading the RAAMC contingent was Maj-Gen David Rossi (rtd) and leading the RAANC contingent was former Head of Corps Col Helen Adamson (rtd).

It was a cool, windy day but that did not affect the warm and continuous applause given by the 12,000-strong crowd along Anzac Parade.

The clapping seemed to swell as Col Adamson led the RAANC contingent into the area around the Stone of Remembrance.

Likewise, the clapping seemed to intensify as the ACT branch of the SAS Association passed, perhaps reflecting the key role current members of SASR have had in fighting in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan and in ridding Iraq of the threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

More applause greeted two other small contingents – that of the veterans of the first Gulf War and of INTERFET.

As usual, the marching was firm and in step by most veterans, showing that although they had spent many years out of uniform, some things had not been forgotten.

Indeed, what was not forgotten, as symbolised by the sprigs of rosemary worn by many spectators, was the sacrifice both the living and the dead had made for Australia.

From Cpl Belinda Mepham in Dili

The last known ‘criado’ alive in East Timor was a guest at the Dawn Service in Dili, East Timor on Anzac Day.

As a young man, Rufino Alves Correira was recruited by Australian commandos who fought in East Timor during 1942 after the Japanese had invaded the island. He and other East Timorese who joined the commandos became known as ‘criados’, a Portuguese word meaning ‘servant’.

He was attached to Lt Tom Nesbitt of the 2/2 Ind Coy, carrying the officer’s equipment, directing him through mountainous terrain, supplying him with food and helping him when he was sick or wounded.

Rufino said the criados knew the mountains like the back of their hands – without them, the Australians might not have survived.

“We would direct the soldiers to positions to trap the enemy, it worked many times, there were no Australian prisoners during this time,” he said.

“Tom and myself were like brothers. Tom remained loyal to me until he was too sick and could no longer keep contact.”

Mr Correira said on one occasion he actually fought with the Australians when Japanese in the Solbada district attacked them.

This little gentleman, now in his 80s, held onto my hand and squeezed it from time to time emphasising, what I believe, is his genuine friendship and feeling for Australian soldiers.

At the Anzac Dawn service he gave his special two-part handshake to the Australian soldiers who met him. First holding their hand then curling his fingers over the top of their interlocking thumbs. He only did this for the soldiers, suggesting, perhaps Lt Nesbitt may have greeted him like this all those years ago.