Dear Ruth   John   Judith   Miriam   Elisabeth   Priscilla.          25 April 2009 AD             

Anzac Day 2009.   Memories flooded.

I had spoken on the protection of the Lord at Waitpinga.   I referred to the destroyers encircling our convoy:    'Queen Mary',  20,000 troops leading us.   'New Zealand' to her stern; our ship 'Mauretania' with 6,000 aboard and ahead of us one whose name I could not recall.

At the door, an aged gentleman shook my hand, with the word ‘new Holland’. ‘You must have been on board.’   ‘No, I was 3000 meters above you - RAAF   escorted you from Fremantle to Ceylon ( now Sri Lanka).   I   burst into tears, not suspecting we had cover for that stretch of ocean, where our ship Sydney went down with 645 fellows aboard.  

I had trekked for three days , 12 hours’ daily, giving them a tablespoon of salt ( a most generous one ) for each day; and taking over a hospital for the natives at Ioma.   An outbreak of measles necessitated  a River Mambare patrol

When I spoke of the heat prostration from Papua New Guinea river patrol and the long convalescence, Lis felt I had not spoken of that previously.  

I recall the tiniest plane ( spotting ) of the day, and being dropped into the single cockpit on the pilot’s lap. Then total oblivion.   Next I stood on the top deck of a hospital ship, unable to piece together my presence - then darkness.

Please forgive me for not majoring on an area when my memory had totally been removed from me- the hiatus for which I had no explanation, the long waiting for my dear one who with 12 month old Ruth sought unsuccessfully for rail permit to visit.   They gave unmodified Shock treatment . (criminal today), therefore, - hence readily accepted by DVA for pension.   Mother thinks that I took three months to regain consciousness, and, awakening one day, questioning everything and demanding that I be released.   Only prayer from my dear one and my Mother could explain the amazing return of my consciousness. I can’t recall reading Scriptures or prayer; nor receiving letters from home.   .

I was released from hospital for rail ambulance service, pleading for my transfer to Repat hospital in Daw Park

Mother helped marvelously in the rehabilitation.   I found study taxing.    Mother sat with me several hours nightly studying Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Zoology.    As I read aloud,  Mother followed my course. When I wanted to give up,   Mother refused to allow me. ‘Stick to it. God will carry you through.’      Jim Mc Millan, 10 years my junior helped me during the first year of the medicine course.

Please forgive me if I have not detailed this experience.   Shame, embarrassment , powerlessness. Mysterious.

The marvel is that God   restored my memory.   And I consider it an immense privilege to stand alongside Mother during this time.  She has been an immense strength and womanly wise during our years together.    If I have accomplished anything for my God, it is her inner strength and deep love that the Lord used to inspire and infuse me.

Gallipoli service - on Turkish ( Muslim soil ) they sang psalm 23 (Crimond) and finished with

‘Amazing grace’ which astonished many of the thousands of Young people attending the service.

Then the Lord’s Prayer was repeated.   My heart leapt.

Denis Jarvis - a dear friend - pioneer discoverer of acrylic lens, a world first, - when he heard of the finding of the five Russian copies of my book in the library of the Slavic church urged that our children record their impressions of the family, which he urged will blur as days slip by.

I am the only known survivor of the 2/9 AGH.   No mention of them in the Anzac Day march.

I owed much to some of the dear Christian members of that company; and look forward to a reunion in the clouds.   Ron Schaeffer.   Scotty Grant and Norm Fabian ( my bible teachers ) and great preacher , chaplain Charlie Gray:   Men who taught me much of the Scriptures- .  

A father’s deep love for God-given children - ( what a privilege to have children like you-)  

Dad    Father                               ‘Commit to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.'

                    PS   My dear friend Peter Daniels called, ’How was Anzac Day‘? I recounted something of this letter.   Dad