Leonard Waters
Waters volunteered for the RAAF on 24 August 1942. He began training as an aircraft mechanic and then later volunteered for flying services and commenced initial training. After competitive training, he was selected as a pilot and was assigned to 78 squadron, stationed in Dutch New Guinea and then later in Borneo. All of the soldiers associated with the squadron flew kitty hawk fighters. Waters named his kitty hawk “Black Magic” and completed 95 missions. After the war, he hoped to find a career in civilian fighting, although delays and lack of financial backing forced him to go back to his original job of shearing. Like many others, the war did not provide Walters with the opportunity to use the skills that he gained the war later in life. He wrote four letters seeking government approval about wanting to find a career with civilian fighting He never received a reply and since then he never flew a plane again. Four weeks after his discharge, Waters married Gladys Saunders, with whom he had six children. Waters passed on 24 August, 1993 at the age of 69 and was buried in St George Cemetery. "I was terribly keen to prove myself in the elite ... The flying part of the Air Force was the elite. I might add that there were 375 [students] on that course and 48 of us finished up as pilots...and the end result when we got our wings...there were only three blokes ahead of me on average." Len Waters |
Reg Saunders
Reginald Walter "Reg" Saunders was the first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army. After enlisting as a soldier in 1940, he saw action during WW2 in North Africa, Greece and Crete. His younger brother Harry also joined the army, unfortunately he was killed in 1942. Within six weeks of enlistment he was a lance corporal, and after three months he made sergeant. This was because of his natural leadership qualities. Saunders first experience of war was fighting the Italians around Benghazi/. Saunders was among a party evacuated from Crete by a British submarine in May 1942. He later returned to Australia in October. After WW2 ended, a veterans organisation recommend Saunders for inclusion in the official Australian contingent to the coronation of Elizabeth 11. Saunders remained in the Army overseeing training for nation servicemen at Puckapunyal. Later in 1954, Saunders was discharged at his own request. That same year he married an Irish nurse, Pat Montgomery, although this marriage soon ended after he returned from korea. On 14 December 2001, Saunders was honoured with the dedication of Reg Saunders way. |
Jack Alick Bond
Jack Alick Bond, also known as Jack Bond was one of the Braidwood volunteers who left Australia on 17 January 1900 along with the second contingent of the First Australian Whitehorse. He contingent arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on the 23rd February 1900. They arrived back in Australia, in Sydney on 2nd May 1901. Alick was categorised into the bush labour group, also known by Murray. As well as being a tracker, he was a farm labourer. Jack Alick also volunteered for the AIF in 1918 putting his age down by six years. His application was declined, although there is no reason as to why. Jack Alick had no children but his family had many descendants. Alick passed away in 1941, as a result of being run over by a tram. |
Letter from Jack Alick:
Korvall Pont, Convalescent Camp, September 4, 1900,
DEAR George,— I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking. I have been unfortunate enough to take an attack of fever from which I fell sick at Johannesburg just three months ago, but I am pleased to say I have almost fully recovered and am feeling well again. I have not seen the regiment since I fell sick and I am not particularly anxious to rejoin them as I am quite satisfied where I am now having an easy time here, doing no duty. I have seen quite enough fighting and have had some very narrow squeaks. It is a very healthy place here and we are close to the Orange River and also the bridge which was blown up some time ago. We are surrounded on all sides by kopjes, and after 10 o’clock in the morning we are free to roam wherever we like and sometimes I take a turn at climbing, but not often as I have seen enough of these kopjes. I have been amongst all sorts and sizes of troops since my sickness, regulars and volunteers from almost every regiment out here and I must say they are as a majority a most lively and jolly lot of chaps and damned good company, especially in the tent where I am now. I understood yon bad a good days races at Snowball on Easter Monday and hope yon all enjoyed yourselves. Of course it wasn’t my luck to be there, but I enjoyed a night out in the rain on the veldt on Easter Monday without tents, and also the two following nights, after which I felt slightly washed out. I haven’t space enough to go into details of all the fighting, &c I have been through, but will give you all particulars when I return home, which I hope won’t be long, as I reckon it has lasted just long enough. Give my kindest regards to the Mrs. and the children and accept same yourself,
from your old friend JACK ALICK
Korvall Pont, Convalescent Camp, September 4, 1900,
DEAR George,— I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking. I have been unfortunate enough to take an attack of fever from which I fell sick at Johannesburg just three months ago, but I am pleased to say I have almost fully recovered and am feeling well again. I have not seen the regiment since I fell sick and I am not particularly anxious to rejoin them as I am quite satisfied where I am now having an easy time here, doing no duty. I have seen quite enough fighting and have had some very narrow squeaks. It is a very healthy place here and we are close to the Orange River and also the bridge which was blown up some time ago. We are surrounded on all sides by kopjes, and after 10 o’clock in the morning we are free to roam wherever we like and sometimes I take a turn at climbing, but not often as I have seen enough of these kopjes. I have been amongst all sorts and sizes of troops since my sickness, regulars and volunteers from almost every regiment out here and I must say they are as a majority a most lively and jolly lot of chaps and damned good company, especially in the tent where I am now. I understood yon bad a good days races at Snowball on Easter Monday and hope yon all enjoyed yourselves. Of course it wasn’t my luck to be there, but I enjoyed a night out in the rain on the veldt on Easter Monday without tents, and also the two following nights, after which I felt slightly washed out. I haven’t space enough to go into details of all the fighting, &c I have been through, but will give you all particulars when I return home, which I hope won’t be long, as I reckon it has lasted just long enough. Give my kindest regards to the Mrs. and the children and accept same yourself,
from your old friend JACK ALICK