Memories of My Father by Allastair Campbell

MEMORIES OF MY FATHER JAMES WILLIAM CAMPBELL

 WHO SERVED IN GALLIPOLI AND FRANCE

My father James William Campbell, (known as Bill) served in Gallipoli and France in the 1^st World War. The allies and the Germans used to have a cease fire so that they could go out into the battlefield to bring back the dead and wounded. My father went out to look for a mate but met a man by the name of Jack Broadbent who was also wounded.

After the war my father bought a 1,000 acre farm 12 miles south of Narrandera in NSW and it turned out that his neighbour was the same Jack Broadbent who lived on 6,000 acres. They became good friends and Jack bought a 1926 Ford Model T truck and he gave it to my father in gratitude for his assistance. This truck remains with the family today and it has been fully restored in my father’s memory.

My father put his age down and he joined up again for the 2^nd World War and he served at Myrtleford Prison Camp in Victoria and then in Innisfail in Queensland.

I was 7 years old when he died on 3 January 1950 and so this is how I became involved in Legacy.

Allastair Campbell

Gympie Times Article 17th October 2012

Legacy Dinner Bundaberg 13th October 2012

 

North West Star 14th September 2012

Returning Home by Andrew MacDonald

RETURNING HOME

Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, Australia deployed 1871 ADF personnel to the Gulf region as part of the multinational response. My brother Darren and I both set sail that day. Darren was onboard HMAS Adelaide and I was onboard HMAS Success.

I remember my mother Janet MacDonald, making the frantic dash from Adelaide to Garden Island in Sydney to see both Darren and I off. I remember Prime Minister Bob Hawke arriving onboard to farewell the crews and mum chatting at length with him about her two sons. I remember seeing my family, particularly my three year old son Matthew, standing on the wharf waving goodbye as the ship slowly moved away. I was on the quarter deck, tears in my eyes and with no idea as to when I would be home.

Some 7 months later Darren and I did arrived home safely. But unfortunately, many Australian Defence Force personnel have not come home. The operation in Afghanistan has now seen 33 Australian soldiers not return to their family. Thank god for Legacy!

Legacy is dedicated to enhancing the lives of families of veterans and currently cares for 100,000 widows and 1,900 children and disabled dependants throughout Australia.

Legacy does however rely on donations from the Australian community through charity activities such as this. So put your hand in your pocket and help a Legacy family.

Andrew MacDonald

Memories of Jennifer Windebank

Memories of Jennifer Windebank (68 years of age) of her Uncle John (Jack) Turner a world War 1 Veteran.

Uncle Jack knew and often spoke of Simpson and his donkey.

Simpsons name was John (Jack) Simpson Kirkpatrick and was born in England.  He landed at Anzac cove on the 25^th April 1915 with the Australian troops.  The following day whilst carrying wounded soldiers back from the front line he spotted a donkey.  He quickly captured and made use of the donkey to transport the wounded soldiers Simpson was well respected by all for his jolly nature and was always ready to go out from the trenches to help his fellow soldiers.  He died on 19^th May 1915 from machine gun fire.

As a young girl with my cousins listening to Uncle Jack's war stories the significance of Simpson and his donkey was just a story.  In my adult years I realised how privileged we were to have heard the legend many times from our Uncle who was there enduring the horror and hardship of Gallipoli.  Little did these brave men know that the landing at Gallipoli would herald the dawn of our nation and inspire respect from the enemy and a friendship between two nations that continues today.

The words of Kemal Attaturk written in 1934 and inscribed on the memorial at ANZAC Cove bear testament to this.

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives......
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore, Rest In Peace
There is no difference between the Mehmets and the Johnnies to us where they lay side by side,
here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers,who sent their sons from far away countries......
Wipe away your tears
Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace 
After having lost their lives on this land, they have
Become our sons as well.

Mustapha Kemal Attaturk President of Turkey 1934