| Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a wonderful day for me personally,
and I think it is a wonderful day for the men of the 133, for
those who are still alive and remember the part we played in
the defence of Australia.
There was nobody else that took such a big part that the
133 did, in going to Fenton and supporting Australia and the
American Air Force. The American's were a wonderful crew of
men, I possibly more so than you, got to know them. They were
very friendly and very capable and they flew some of the longest
sorties out of Australia, out of Fenton field more importantly,
in other words Fenton Field was the biggest base the American
forces had in Australia. They went around and did the damage
in the islands
to such an extent that the Japanese decided enough is enough.
They always acknowledged the part the 133 Battery played
in giving protection to their planes and personnel at Fenton
Field. Unfortunately, the annals of history don't give
the credit that's due to the 133rd, you men that are left
and are here today, have a right to take a great pride in
what you did and I certainly take a great pride in having
the honour of having you serve Australia to the best of your
ability and it was a darn good ability.
I think what you did was sufficient to make the Japanese
forces realise there was somebody, somewhere and in particularly
Fenton, who were prepared to fight for Australia. There are
no other Batteries of anti aircraft guns who made the journey
that we did from about the 7th May 1943.
Colonial Long the CO of the 101 Reg had in his mind to select
you men, our battery, for their adoption of the difficulties
of war, coming from Infantry, taking on the heavy work of
anti aircraft guns. Our existence in the 133 from that day,
finally getting to the stage to the mobile battery that we
were, we manoeuvred down and went from a place called Tocumwal
on the NSW/VIC border and went by rail south through the outskirts
of Melbourne across to Adelaide from there we went further
north on the train.
I remember very vividly going back into the train that was
taking 6 to 8 men to a carriage, freezing cold. Many people
have done the journey since, but certainly not under the conditions
of you men. You would remember the conditions were a problem
and you carried this out with great courage, into an area,
probably one of the loneliest looking areas, with no facilities
whatsoever at Fenton Field in support of the American bombing
forces.
I came from the original 2/2nd AA Reg. some of my ex battery
boys went to NG, but they didn't do anything from Australia.
Darwin, was clearly the Fortress for Australia in that area
against the invading Japanese coming from the Islands they
occupied. So, you can take great pride in what you did, I
am a very proud person of the men who I had the honour of
commanding.
There is one regret that I have, you went on till November
1944, I left under orders and went further away to Borneo.
At Darwin, where I went to from Fenton for a short time, I
cruised Darwin Harbour in a very smart launch and seen various
sights there, so I know Darwin was not as nearly as tough
as Fenton.
However, the disappointing thing to me, there has been no
official recognition of your service during that time and
fortunately I hope we are on the track of doing something
through the wonderful young Lady whom you all know Vanessa,
daughter of Bill and Joan Meani, a great solider Bill and
with his mates did their job. Vanessa has taken up the matter
on your behalf to get recognition, which you richly deserve.
It has been a great day for me personally to see all the
faces that I once knew as boys, that may of known me as the
'so and so' old Major, it's been a tremendous day, a highlight
of my life and I thank you very much for it.
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