RSL Macclesfield Sub Branch Newsletter
September 11th 2014
www.macclesfield.rslsa.org.au
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Lest We Forget
9 October 1917 Private Stephen Magin, AIF 5633 28th Battalion - born
Macclesfield, Killed in Action – Belgium His photograph is still sought
Son of Edward & Jane Magin (nee Nestor) of Macclesfield,
brother to Patrick and sister to Mrs A Hurley (Balaklava).
The family was informed of his death on 30th May 1935 –
some 17 years later.
Private Magin had enlisted in Western Australia and was wounded
twice in action before being killed.
9 October 1918 Private Ambrose Howard AIF
2346 16th Battalion – Macclesfield Football Club
Player– Tragically drowned accidentally River
Seine - France
Country News -Macclesfield June 24th 1915
A social was held at Mr J J O’Malley’s,
Macclesfield, on the 19th in honor of Mr A L
Howard who is leaving for the front. Mr T C
Cosgrave acted as chairman and proposed the
toast of the guest. “Good wishes for his safe
return” were expressed by about thirty town and
district folk, and various social items made up a
very pleasant evening.
Howard – In fond and loving memory of our dear son, Ambrose Leo,
accidentally drowned in the Somme. October 9th 1918.
Now your brothers have home returned
Our hearts do throb with pain
To think you are not with them Ambrose,
And will never come home again.
Inserted by his sorrowing mother and stepfather, Mr and Mrs M Short, Matilda
Street, Gilberton. Brother of sister Mary and brothers Thomas and Robert.
FOUR-LEGGED
DIGGERS
For decades of global conflict, four-legged
diggers have served alongside Australia's
troops — and most were not returned home.
Stories continue to surface about the unending loyalty of a dog to its human
pack. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has started to catalogue these
stories, along with other records of animal acts of bravery, for an upcoming
exhibition, 'A is for Animals'.
Australian Military forces enlisted the help of man’s best friend during World
War I when German Shepherds were given the task of guarding valuable military
equipment. In Vietnam, the Australian Task Force included dogs in combat
tracker teams. Their mission was to search the jungle for the enemy. Eleven
dogs were left behind, as it was against policy to return a service animal to
Australia.
A dog's keen sense of smell aided our soldiers in detecting mines, in a similar
fashion to the bomb detector dogs of today. They were often used to search for,
and aid, the wounded. During World War II specially designed gas masks were
made for the canine division.
In 1943, a special medal was created to honour the dogs that had fought and
fallen in combat. Eighteen canine comrades have so far been awarded the
Dickin Medal — the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross — for their acts of
heroism and bravery. The medal, a bronze medallion that bears the words 'For
Gallantry', was first received by three pigeons that served in the Royal Air Force
during WWII.
White Vision, Winkie and Tyke were honoured for delivering
messages that contributed to the rescue of a ditched aircrew.
Today, more than 10 breeds of dog have found a place within our armed
forces. The most common are the German and Belgian shepherds, the Labrador
and the Aussie mutt. The troops that served in Afghanistan adopted dogs as
mascots for their Battalion.
Sabi, a black Labrador, trained in explosives
detection, made headlines with her recovery after spending 14 months missing in
action.
What makes the canine useful in the art of war? A dog’s qualities of loyalty,
intelligence and devotion are highly valued in their role as pets, and these traits
are also attractive to the armed forces. Among their many duties, our enlisted
buddies have helped carry messages through the trenches, laid telephone wire,
and carried ammunition and medical equipment from place to place.
There are some heart-warming stories of Aussie service dogs that have been
smuggled home. As more stories surface and international news channels pay
tribute to heart-warming war-dog stories, hopefully more of these military mutts
will find secure homes, post-service.
The Australian Army Trackers & War Dogs Memorial, Goolwa, South Australia (image courtesy)