Anzac Day - Extracts from Lingering Doubts

‘Although Reg Brown was unable to join the forces during World War 1, [because of an inguinal hernia] Eva Brown’s family sent several young men off to the various campaigns on foreign continents. Two of Eva’s uncles, William and Alfred Winterford had fought with the Second Mounted Infantry Battalion in the Boer War, as well as the Great War. Lieutenant Alfred Winterford died in France in June 1918. The following month Eva’s brother Sergeant Harold Cocks, 23 years old, died of wounds received at Hamel. He received the British War Medal and Victory Medal and was buried at Crouy British Cemetery on the Somme. Richard Cock’s brother, Sergeant Claude Augustus Cocks, also a recipient of these two medals, was mentioned in Despatches at Passchendaele. He returned home ...’ p 40
‘If the 1930s were lean years of economic depression then they were only preparation for the war years to follow. Australia watched the mounting tensions in Europe at a long safe distance, but when Hitler invaded Poland, and England declared war on Germany, then the Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced Australia was also at war. Every family prepared, including the Browns of Ryan’s Road, St Lucia. …Eva Brown joined the Red Cross. Reg … contributed in his own way to the war effort as an air raid warden for the area. Ian Brown was too young to enlist, but Reg Brown’s eldest daughter, Melva, 22, joined the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) in 1943…General Sir Thomas Blamey and his staff resided at the bottom end of Ryan’s Road during the Pacific campaign…it was not unusual then for General Blamey to offer pretty Sergeant Melva Brown, smart in her uniform and waiting for a bus on the corner, a ride in his jeep.’ Pp 45, 46
Another family member, Lieutenant – Colonel Ian Marsh (Retired), our second cousin, served his country for many years in the Army (Engineers).
Deb’s maternal grandfather, Henry (Harry) Salmon, was a trooper in the 12th Light Horse Regiment. He returned safely and never forgot his courageous companion - his horse. 'Sardines'.
Lest we forget
Deb and Jan