This photo was taken seventy-five years ago, on September 5, 1941 of the C Squadron 14th Machine Gun Regiment as it marched down Elizabeth Street, Sydney after their initial training.
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The photo belongs to Bombala’s Kay Adamson whose father and uncle are pictured among the men from Bombala, Cathcart and Cooma.
Leading the squadron was Lt. R E Stewart DCM MM, a veteran of WW1 with most of the men coming from Bombala and Cathcart with a few from Cooma and the Monaro.
Marching in the first row are Tom Smith, Joe Dent (Mrs Adamson’s father), Tacky Beileiter, Dick Rodwell or Gibson, Austin Summerill and Boyce Dent (Mrs Adamson’s uncle).
The second row is thought to be Charles Elliott, Doug Stewart, Reg Baird, Glen Toms, Geoff Woods and Bill Ingram. Keith Moreing, Des Peisley, Leather Taylor, Goog Elton, Bill McCoy and Harry Pauline are in the third row.
Row four is Frank Stewart, Tom Champion, Charlie Groves, Jack Rutherford, Dick Boland and Ted Roberts. Noel Robbie, Jack Lewis, Ted Ingram, Lindsay Hain and Snowden are among the men in the fifth and sixth rows. Sgt Harris, Lt Ross and Sep Summerill are also listed on the photo as being there.
In 1942 these men were sent where-ever they were needed in the Pacific war including New Guinea, Darwin and North Queensland.
It is unknown how many of the men are still alive, but Keith Moreing who was sent to North Queensland is approaching his 97th birthday and is bright and cheerful in Bombala Hospital.
Tacky Beileiter, Boyce Dent, Tom Champion, Noel Robbie and Des Peisley are known to have served in New Guinea and Joe Dent was sent to Darwin.
Tom Smith from Delegate was one of the men recruited in the WW1 Men from Snowy River March. He enlisted in the march in Craigie where he was working at the time. Tom was discharged from the AIF on October 5, 1919 and on October 25, 1941 aged 46 he re-enlisted in WW2. He was discharged in 1942 and passed away on January 7, 1973.
The Bombala Times is keen to hear from anyone with any further information.
