HEROES TO GATHER FOR TRIBUTE
A TRIBUTE lunch for a group of “old soldiers’’ from the Coastwatchers and members of the “Z” Operatives who played a major role in the defence of Australia during World War II is being held on the Gold Coast next month.
Eight of the 10 still-living members of these groups are expected to attend.
Ashmore local Lionel Veale, who will be 100 on the day of the event on August 30, will be an honoured guest who will be a big part of the day. He now lives at a nursing home.
All members are over the age of 95 and six members will be travelling from interstate.
The special project, sup- ported by the RSL, Defence Department, the US Navy and conducted by Operation Pilgrimage Group, is aimed at honouring the few remaining men who protected Australia by blowing up enemy shipping in the heart of Japan’s wartime stronghold.
Sydneysider Moss Berryman will be in attendance and is the last survivor of Operation Jaywick, the most successful covert military mission of the war.
The inconspicuous MV Krait ferried 14 commandos thousands of kilometres behind enemy lines into Singapore Harbour in 1943.
The objective of Operation Jaywick was for a group of Australian and British Z Special Unit members to attack Japanese shipping in Singapore using time delayed limpet mines.
The operatives and crew included 10 sailors and four soldiers.
Member of number 1 Commando Company from 1963 through to the early 70s, Allan Miles, from Sydney will be attending the tribute lunch event to honour the men who defended the country.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, as these boys won’t be getting together again,” he said.
“We meet at high noon because the Coastwatchers lay doggo by day because they were concerned about casting a shadow and being seen, so at high noon they could stand upright freely.
“We are meeting at high noon for the tribute lunch to symbolise this.
“We would like to extend an invitation for people to attend the tribute lunch in honouring the real heroes in Australia’s society. Men like your father, your uncle, the generation that we owe so much to.”
Tickets are $100 at the door at high noon at The QT Hotel on August 30.
OPERATION JAYWICK, [WAS] THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COVERT MILITARY MISSION OF WWII.