Reliving an Aussie legend

ANZAC SPIRIT: LCDR John Potter MHQ with CPL Simon Reddish RAAF of DFCE, both in WWI army khaki at the Reserve Forces Day National Launch at Victoria Barracks.

By LCDR Mick Gallagher

A Naval officer from MHQ has cast aside his nautical whites and donned the khaki uniform of a WWI army officer.

“No, I haven’t deserted the RAN,” said LCDR John Potter.

It’s just another one of the many uniforms I wear doing re-enactments”.

John was taking part in the National launch of Reserve Forces Day held at Sydney’s Victoria Barracks on November 27 last year.

LCDR Potter is a member of the Australian Great War Association (AGWA), a WW1 re-enactment group with members Victoria and NSW.

John is also a member of the 42 Royal Highland Regiment 1815 (Australia), also known as The Black Watch, specialising in the Napoleonic Wars.

He also belongs to a group known as Nelson’s Navy, which does naval re-enactments 1788–1805.

Reserve Forces Day this year will replicate the 1915 Cooee March from Gilgandra NSW to Sydney.

“Don’t just read about history, re-enact it,” says LCDR Potter.

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