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Vet’s heartfelt presentation
By WO2 Wayne Ryan
Edition 1168, June 14, 2007 |
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Looking back: WWII vet Roger Fitzhardinge and 7 Fd Bty members Capt Stuart James and WO2 Gordon Duff with an 18-pounder.
Photo by WO2 Wayne Ryan |
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FOR old soldier Roger Fitzhardinge, 7 Fd Bty has a special place in his heart.
The digger looked back on his colourful Army career during a recent presentation to 13 Bde gunners.
Mr Fitzhardinge – the former CO of 3 Fd Regt, which is now 7 Fd Bty – presented a plaque to the soldiers and officers of the unit. It recognises members from Adelaide and Western Australia for their service with 2/7 Fd Regt during World War II.
Mr Fitzhardinge, 95, relies upon a cane to get himself around these days but behind the grey hair and the cane is a story of a banker who answered the call to arms during the darker days of Australia’s history.
He enlisted in the Army in 1930 as a gunner and during WWII served in the Middle East and as a senior instructor in artillery at Northam, Western Australia, rising to the rank of major.
At the end of hostilities he returned to a career in banking. In 1951 he returned to the Army in a training role.
Reflecting on his service at the presentation he said: “Once a gunner … always a gunner.”
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