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I wish we had a 'HISTORY' thread' That would be nice - to honour those who did what they did.

Phil Perry

By Phil Perry
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Phil Perry Newbie

Phil Perry

Posted
Posted

I came upon this today during my voracious reading excercises on the interwebbythingummy. . . . This Gentleman looks like he is wearing Australian type Army Headgear. . . Has anyone heard of him I wonder. . .the article did not say from where this brave man hailed. . .. . . .where the hell did they ever find 'Ordinary' blokes like this I wonder ? ? ?

 

Lieutenant George Arthur Knowland VC (16 August 1922 – 31 January 1945), Royal Norfolks but attached to No. 1 Commando.

 

On 31 January 1945 near Kangaw, Burma, Lieutenant Knowland was in command of a forward platoon of a troop which was being heavily attacked – some 300 of the enemy concentrating on his 24 men. During the attacks he moved among the men distributing ammunition and contributing with rifle fire and throwing grenades at the enemy. When the crew of one of his forward Bren light machine guns had been wounded, he rushed forward to man it himself.

 

The enemy was only 10 yards away but below the level of the trench so to fire into them he stood up. He continued to fire until the casualties had been evacuated. A replacement gun team that had been sent for were injured while moving up and he stayed with the gun until a third team arrived.

 

In a subsequent attack he took over a 2 inch mortar which he fired from the hip directly into the enemy. He returned to the trench for more ammunition and fired the mortar from out in the open. When this was used up he fired his rifle.

 

The enemy were then very close and without time to reload his rifle, he picked up a "Tommy gun" (sub machine gun) and used it. He killed more of the enemy but received mortal wounds. Despite over 50% losses in the platoon the remainder held on. By the time they were relieved the men had held the ground for 12 hours; they prevented the enemy from advancing further on that hill.

 

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Yenn Rising Star

Yenn

Posted
Posted

One of many. I wonder how he fired a 2" mortar from the hip. We only really hear of a few VC winners, but since WW2 there seem to be more non commissioned soldiers winning the VC than in the old days.

 

 

spacesailor Grand Master

spacesailor

Posted
Posted

Also a soldier who captured a lot of Germans by standing at the end of the trench & had the drop on them. I believe he was later a Brain surgeon, ( could be Dr money neurosurgeon).

 

They made a film about it and changed the characters to Americans.

 

also the Australian airmen who flew the Convoy escort to Russia.

 

spacesailor

 

 

Phil Perry Newbie

Phil Perry

Posted
  • Author
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Hi Phil,

Found this on Wikipedia. Says he was born in Catford, Kent and went to school in Croydon. BTW his birth date of 16 August 1922 is 95 years ago tomorrow.

 

George Arthur Knowland - Wikipedia

 

Wiki text is exactly as per your post but has side bars with the additional info.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

Thanks for that Chris. . .it was the Hat which threw me ! Shoulda checked Wiki. . . .

 

 

Chris Tarran Apprentice

Chris Tarran

Posted
Posted
Thanks for that Chris. . .it was the Hat which threw me ! Shoulda checked Wiki. . . .

Also looked up the slouch hat. Appears that a variety of Commomwealth forces wore them although it's pretty much an Aussie thing now.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

 

 

Phil Perry Newbie

Phil Perry

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Should put this in recreationalflying - but this is one way thanks are given for heroes of days gone by. Does Aus organise something similar? Project Propeller

I flew a lanc gunner a few years ago... Very humbling and rewarding experience..

It certainly is a privilege to fly such people as passengers. I had the honour of flying a genuine SAS bloke who served in WW2. This was way back in th early 1990s, when I'd just started Otherton Airfield. This very polite elderly Gent asked if there was any chance that he could get a flight on one of our very basic flexwing microlights, as they looked "Rather a lot of fun". . . I am ashamed to say that I don't remember his name, but it was deffo in my log so I'll have to look it up.

 

I gave him a walk around of the machine . . he asked loads of pertinent questions about it. After a thorough safety brief and getting him bagged up in a flying suit, I strapped him into the back seat and off we went. . . He was talking all the time and continued to marvel at these 'Lovely little aircraft'. . .we were around 200 feet in the climb out and he said . . .and I swear to God this is true. . ."If something goes wrong, . . would you like me to jump out ? ? " . . .Bless. This chap was well into his later life by then, and I got him a ride in a 3 axis as well. . . the guys were queueing up to take this man for a flight. . . he spent most of the day with us and told us very little of what he did in the Special Air Service . . ."Oh,. . not much. .just buggering about in the desert blowing up Jerry aircraft. . . . ."

 

 

Phil Perry Newbie

Phil Perry

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  • Author
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jerry vietnam war pity that the truth was not told I was there let not go there neil

Rather a lot of military veterans just DON'T want to talk about it mate. . . .My Maternal Uncle Ernest was one of these,. . he was in the RN. A Stoker on Destroyers and Cruisers, so he didn't see much of what was going on topside but got sunk three times and managed to get away with his life. . . this didn't come from him but from My Mum. . . . .Aunt Lily,. . .his Wife, . . said that he was a changed man after the war. . .from being a happy go lucky, cheeky chappie, to a morose, and brooding man who never seemed to want to engage with anyone. I've no doubt that there were many such men. . . .most of us cannot even begin to imagine the horrors that they actually witnessed and were a part of. . . .

 

 

Jerry_Atrick Grand Master

Jerry_Atrick

Posted
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jerry vietnam war pity that the truth was not told I was there let not go there neil

Storchy. I agree - let's not ponder, but let's still remember for the sake it hopefully never happens again. Like Phil, my uncle was there, too.. Infantry I think.. He never talks about it.. his wife doesn't even know what he has gone through...

 

 

Phil Perry Newbie

Phil Perry

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  • Author
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I happened upon this today. . .whilst trolling youtube. . . . I don't want to listen to it again today, as I've run out of kitchen roll tissue. (and that isn't meant to be in any way amusing)

 

 

gareth lacey Collaborator

gareth lacey

Posted
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Hi Phil, The Dubliners sing this song as well , gets me all swelled up when I hear it , we owe so much to all the lost and maimed soldiers of the past and present ,LEST WE FORGET

 

Cheers gareth

 

 

  • 4 weeks later...
Old Koreelah Grand Master

Old Koreelah

Posted
Posted

Jerry mentioned Vietnam- a war I missed being conscripted into by one day!

 

In a couple of perhaps uniquely Australian ways, that war made me very proud of our country.

 

One aspect is the reception given to Vietnamese refugees; our PM sent out the Navy to rescue them.

 

A generation later, one former refugee describes the arrival of their leaky boatload of frightened people off Darwin. They encountered an Aussie fisherman who welcomed them with a smile and a beer.

 

A few years back at a conference I got talking to a Vietnam vet. After I asked if he'd ever been back, he got all thoughtful and said yes, a few of them had travelled back to the old battlegrounds. He was surprised that few of the Vietnamese these days were interested in the war. He was disgusted to find old soldiers begging in the street. He and his mates chipped in and brought an old Viet Cong veteran out to Australia, where he had family.

 

 

Phil Perry Newbie

Phil Perry

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hi Phil,

Found this on Wikipedia. Says he was born in Catford, Kent and went to school in Croydon. BTW his birth date of 16 August 1922 is 95 years ago tomorrow.

 

George Arthur Knowland - Wikipedia

 

Wiki text is exactly as per your post but has side bars with the additional info.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

Thanks Chris. 'Wiki text is exactly as per your post but has side bars with the additional info.' I had a look at Wiki after you posted that reply, I gather that the person who posted the original article - which I nicked - had used this as a reference.

 

I don't mind people doing that because it creates interest in the exploits of these veteran heroes which might not otherwise come to light for the benefit of younger folks. . . .The infi regarding the 'Slouch' hat was something I didn't know, so I learned something new too !

 

My friend Graham posts at least one 'Hero' story per day on some of the blogs I visit, he's Ex-RN, albeit one generation after WW2 . . .There certainly were some Extraordinarily Brave ( or crazy ) Soldiers / Sailors / Airmen back then. . . . Massive respect to all of them.

 

 

  • 4 months later...
Old Koreelah Grand Master

Old Koreelah

Posted
Posted
...A few years back at a conference I got talking to a Vietnam vet. After I asked if he'd ever been back, he got all thoughtful and said yes, a few of them had travelled back to the old battlegrounds. He was surprised that few of the Vietnamese these days were interested in the war. He was disgusted to find old soldiers begging in the street. He and his mates chipped in and brought an old Viet Cong veteran out to Australia, where he had family.

No amount of ANZAC Day marches and War Memorials make me as proud of our Diggers as this story:

 

Beers with the enemy: Vietnam vets building 'friendship club' with former foes

 

 

Yenn Rising Star

Yenn

Posted
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Old Koreela said that the Viet Nam war made them proud of this country. I am the opposite, I consider our country did the wrong thing by denigrating our soldiers and trying to cover up the governments wrongfull behaviour by treating our troops as if they were responsible.

 

I consider our troops did everything right and the government behaved in a disgusting way.

 

It is sad to see our politicians big noting themselves with our military, yet there are very few of them who ever served.

 

 

kgwilson Experienced

kgwilson

Posted
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I was one of the protester during the Vietnam war. It was wrong, we were not defending our country, the McCarthyism rhetoric of the communist takeover was the most blatant political lie ever. It is our politicians who should have been sent there and shot. Cow towing to the yanks with not a care in the world for the young brave and naive men who went to serve their country. I have nothing but admiration for the Vets who returned to a county who despised them. It wasn't their fault. Their only crime was believing the political dickheads of the time. They were Heros and now stand together with their former foes, having a beer and building a club. Superb.

 

 

old man emu Grand Master

old man emu

Posted
Posted
I was one of the protester during the Vietnam war. It was wrong, we were not defending our country, the McCarthyism rhetoric of the communist takeover was the most blatant political lie ever. It is our politicians who should have been sent there and shot. Cow towing to the yanks with not a care in the world for the young brave and naive men who went to serve their country. .

50 years on and nothing has changed except that the communist menace got a bit of a breather while Islamic Fundamentalism had a run. Now that IF has had its run, the old bogie is warming up on the sideline.

 

Australian politicians keep bouncing around the US Military like excited pups. Whenever there is a difficult military situation the Yanks pull their poorly trained troops out of the way and send in Australians. And after the Aussies have cleared the way, the Yanks rush in and claim the day. It's been the same since we saved General Macarthur's bacon in 1942. His behaviour towards the Australian soldier was appalling. Treated them with the utmost disdain. The same attitude continued through the Vietnam War.

 

It is about time that Australian politicians stood up to the Yanks and told them to go to buggery. Do you really think that the Yanks would come to our defence if some Asian power wanted to launch military action against us? I've no doubt that the Yanks are quite happy taking over Australia in financial partnership with China and India.

 

 

Yenn Rising Star

Yenn

Posted
Posted

Old Koreela. I have re read your post and it still seems the same to me.

 

Out troops did a great job and were treated badly when they came home.

 

At the time of the war I would tell people that it was all wrong and they accused me of slagging off our troops. That is the usual way politicians and rat bags try to get at people with other ideas.

 

OME seems to have got it right.

 

Most of the problems we have here and also those that are still coming are caused by politicians who cannot see past the next election.

 

 

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