Defence 2020 Youth Challenge Defence 2020 Is the Australian Defence Force a Responsible Citizen? 2010 Participation Task Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School “Profile and individual or group of ADF personnel – either currently serving or who have served in the past – and decide if the represent the Spirit of the ANZAC.” Lieutenant Colonel Sir Ernest Edward “Weary” Dunlop, AC, CMG, OBE. By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge “Weary” Dunlop was a man who displayed all the qualities of the ANZAC Spirit. He was a surgeon and doctor with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F) during World War II. He served with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (6th Division), 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station. What is the “Spirit of the ANZAC?” That is one of the most difficult questions that any Australian or New Zealander can be asked. It is not able to defined, it is just something that is there. The Spirit of the ANZAC was once suggested by War Historian C.E.W. Bean as to have “stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship and endurance that will never own defeat.” The time that the “Spirit of the ANZAC” was noticed and really founded was during the First World War when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps stormed the beaches of Gallipoli. The spirit was recognised in the trenches and through acts of deeds such as Simpson and his donkey. People say the true ANZAC spirit is shown in times of great peril when Australians and New Zealanders are facing impossible odds or fighting in harsh conditions, like the Kokoda Track in New Guinea and with the Rats of Tobruk. While it is widely recognised that the Spirit of the ANZAC is recognised with the Australians we cannot forget the New Zealand forces that were with us most of the time. At the time of the Gallipoli Landing Australia had only been a federated nation for 15 years and we were already at war. Although the landing of Gallipoli was a failure it did bring the nation together as a whole and gave Australia one of the greatest reputations as fierce fighters and those who never give up. The Gallipoli Campaign is often described as the moment that Australia became a real nation. The spirit of the ANZAC is something that is invincible. It is like a flame that lives inside of all true Australian and New Zealanders. Now whilst for many of us it will never be shown it is still in all of us and shall be past down from generation to generation. People say that the ANZAC spirit is dying, this is not true. There has just been no real cause for people to show it because of the early Anzac’s who fought and died so we can have the benefits that we have today. Bravery Mateship Sacrifice These are the most common ANZAC spirit qualities that are shown but there are many more such as: Honour, Duty, Courage, Ingenuity, Patriotism, Honesty, Spirit, Initiative, Skill, Endurance and Larrikinism. One such man who displayed the qualities of a real ANZAC was Edward “Weary” Dunlop, who was nicknamed Weary for what he wasn’t. He was never weary and down in spirits. He always stood up for his men and his mates. By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge Sir Edward Dunlop was born in Wangaratta, Victoria on the 12th of July 1907 to parents James and Alice Dunlop. After finishing high school Dunlop moved to Melbourne where he attended the Victorian College of Pharmacy and then the University of Melbourne, where he attained a scholarship in medicine. He graduated in 1934 with first class honours in pharmacy and medicine. Whilst at University Dunlop played Rugby union and played for the Melbourne University team. As a very skilled player he quickly progressed through to the state team and then the national team. Dunlop was the first Victorian-­born player to play for the Wallabies. Weary Dunlop had been an Army Cadet during his schooling years, and he had continued his part-­time army service until 1929 when he stopped for his pharmacy studies. In May of 1938 Dunlop left Australia and his sweetheart Helen Ferguson to go to England. Whilst in London he attended St Bartholomew’s Medical College. Also in 1939 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Many of his mentors were impressed with his skill and dedication. At the outbreak of the war in 1939 Edward Dunlop immediately volunteered for the A.I.F and was shipped back to Australia on one of the first ships from London. By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge As soon as he got home Dunlop was given the rank of Captain and was assigned to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (6th Division) 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station. Dunlop and his men were shipped out to Crete, Greece and the Middle East were he earned the reputation as being the most caring doctor. In 1942 Dunlop was sent to Java to assist the A.I.F and the British Expeditionary Forces stationed there who were trying to hold back the Japanese advance. In March of 1942 the Japanese captured Edward Dunlop’s Hospital. Weary did have the chance to escape from the Japanese but chose to remain out of compassion for his patients and other staff there. By doing this Weary displayed many of the ANZAC spirit qualities. Being the most senior officer amongst the P.O.W’s (Prisoner Of War) he was appointed the commander of the prisoners. Weary had duties as the senior P.O.W but he was also the head surgeon and had to care for over one thousand men, both Australian and British. The Japanese High Command decided to use these men to build a rail line between Burma and Siam that would be over 300 kilometres long. This railway was to be a major supply route between Bangkok and Rangoon. Conditions in the camps were primitive and even horrific. There was only a makeshift hospital and they had to live in huts they built themselves, and slept in ripped hammocks. This Japanese project would become known as the ‘Burma Railway’ or ‘The Railway of Death’. Weary led the group of men to Thailand to start work on the infamous railway line. The first group of men worked incredibly hard. These thousand men were to become known as ‘Dunlop’s thousand’ or ‘The Dunlop Force’. While the men worked on the railway line they were required to work by Tokyo time. They would have to wake up at 3am and start their day. Breakfast was usually one mug of rice and a cup of watery tea. Lunch and dinner would consist of rice and the very occasional egg. POW’s were allowed to eat what ever they found, such as plants. By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge Billy Griffiths was a British POW and is one of the many who owed their lives to Weary Dunlop. Billy was a soldier who had lost his vision because of a Japanese trap explosion. Because Billy was blind his Japanese captors wanted to kill him, as he could not work on the railway. Billy was in Weary’s hospital when the Japanese came for him. As they dragged him outside Weary Dunlop noticed and followed. When the Japanese raised their bayonets Weary realised that they were going to kill him but Billy was Weary’s patient, Weary had operated on Billy and saved him. Dunlop ran up in front of Billy just as the Japanese were about to bayonet him. and stood in front of the bayonets and said: “You will have to put those bayonets through me first” and refused to move. Billy’s life was spared; the Japanese commander was not prepared to kill the brave doctor. Weary used his position as Commanding Officer to protect his men. Having the massive responsibility of deciding who was to fit and well enough to work and who could remain at the camp and survive. Weary would often disobey and stand up to the Japanese to help his men. This almost always had dire consequences. The most famous story of this was when Weary was made to kneel on gravel and hold up a heavy rock for many hours while a bamboo shaft was placed behind his knee. But Weary did not move for hours. He stood up for his men. Weary endured many beatings and punishments to protect his men. All, even the Japanese, respected his courage and kindness. When some of the Japanese soldiers got sick they actually preferred to go and see Weary rather than their own doctor. On his 38th birthday Weary received many gifts from both Allied and Japanese soldiers for that was the impact he had on everyone. He was the only sense of hope in this place of death and misery. He remained on the railway until the war ended, labouring tirelessly to save wounded, sick and malnourished men. Many times he put his own life at risk as he stood up to the brutality of his Japanese captors. Though not the only medical By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge officer to act in this selfless way, his name was to become a legend among Australian prisoners of war and an inspiration for their own survival. Throughout his captivity and at great personal risk Dunlop recorded his experiences in his diaries. Dunlop and the soldiers in his care were liberated on 28 August 1945. On 27 September 1945 Dunlop was appointed Lt Colonel. Returning to Australia in October and he was demobilized on 1 February 1946, transferring to the Reserve List of Officers with the rank of Honorary Colonel. Before demobilization he had been working (since 10 December 1945) with Brigadier Blackburn at Army Headquarters as Assistant Director of Medical Services to Blackforce. Here his work was driven by a desire to obtain a level of justice for former prisoners of war. Weary Dunlop a man through his compassion and devotion to his men displayed all of the ANZAC Spirit qualities, compassion for his men, and courage in a time of darkness and despair. Weary Dunlop was one of the most compassionate and inspiring men of WW2. Many think that his actions should have earned him a Victoria Cross but it was never approved. By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge Through his actions Dunlop showed all of the qualities of a true ANZAC. He was able to give hope to so many in one of the most desperate in horrible places of WW2. He was able to show the true qualities of an ANZAC and an Australian, bravery, mateship and sacrifice. He showed bravery by standing up to the Japanese guards and even being punished for things that others had done, only to protect them. Weary Dunlop showed the qualities of mateship by never giving up on a man. Even though his hospital was a basic shambles he did what ever he could to save them. Weary showed sacrifice by standing up for others and being punished himself. The story of Billy White is a great example. Weary Dunlop also showed his qualities of a true ANZAC by dedication to the A.I.F and the medical profession. He was of course honored for his service and dedication by the following awards that he received: “'Weary' Dunlop received many honours and awards throughout his life, including; the Order of the British Empire; Companion of the Order of Australia, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knight Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Royal Crown of Thailand; Honorary Fellow of the Imperial College of London; Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Honourary Life Member of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL); and Life Governor of the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. 'Weary' Dunlop has also received the honour of having the Canberra suburb of Dunlop named after him in 1993. In 1976 he was named Australian of the Year and in 1988 he was named one of '200 Great Australians'. His image is on the 1995 issue Australian fifty cent piece with the words "They Served Their Country in World War II, 1939 -­ 1945". The fifty-­
cent piece is part of a set including the one-­dollar coin and the twenty-­cent piece. 'Weary' Dunlop also has a platoon named after him in the Army Recruit Training Centre Blamey Barracks, Kapooka. Weary Dunlop Platoon is a holding platoon to recruits that want to leave recruit training.” Weary Dunlop was a man who one of the few true ANZAC’s and although he was unable to be fully honoured for his contributions to Medicine, he was still well known and appreciated by many not only Australian but by his Japanese captors. By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School Defence 2020 Youth Challenge By Adam Ryan Bibliography: • Australian War Memorial, Sir (Earnest) Edward “Weary” Dunlop – Life, http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/dunlop/bio.asp, 15th July 2010 • Medical Research Foundation, Sir Edward Dunlop – Biography, http://www.siredwarddunlop.com.au/bio.htm, 15th July 2010 • Wikipedia, Edward Dunlop http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Dunlop, 15th July 2010 • Australian Broadcast Channel (ABC), Sir Edward Dunlop, http://www.abc.net.au/schoolstv/australians/dunlop.htm, 15th July 2010 By Adam Ryan Year 10 Darwin High School