2/2nd PIONEER BATTALION ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2003
BATTLE HONOURS
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Middle East
Syria
Java
New Guinea
Tarakan
Balikpapan
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SECRETARY
C (Col) Hamley
114 Mountainview Road
BALWYN NORTH 3104
(03) 9859 5949
PRESIDENT
E.J. (Ted) Hansen
5 Whitehaven Street
WANTIRNA 3152
(03) 9729 3481
TREASURER
Ken Fraser
8 Larool Ave
Greensborough, 3088
(03) 9434 4670
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EDITOR – Eleanor Newcombe,
24 Mills St, Glen Iris, 3146; (03) 9889 2248,
Please address all correspondence to the Secretary
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Coming Events
Caulfield Cup Effort October (see further details on Page 3)
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Vale
John Reginald (Jack) Hocking
Passed away 26th May 2003
The funeral of JR (Jack) Hocking was very well attended. For those who were unable to attend, the tribute by Col Hamley and the RSL service spoken by Ted Hansen are included below:
Ted Hansen’s Address:
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Jack Reginald Hocking joined the 2nd AIF and became known as VX17768 Private Hocking. He joined the famous 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion Headquarter Company as a range finder.
Jack saw active service in the Middle East, Syria and Java where he was promoted to Corporal on 16th February 1942.
Jack was taken prisoner by the Japanese on 8th March 1942 along with the rest of the battalion.
Jack left Java on 8th October 1942 for Singapore, arriving in Burma on 24th October 1942 to work on the Burma Railway until he sailed for Japan in 1944.
During the journey to Japan the ship was torpedoed by an American submarine. Many lives were lost, including a total of 55 from the 2/2nd Pioneers.
Along with 8 other battalion members Jack was rescued on 15th December 1944 and brought back to Australia by the submarine USS Pampanito. Jack was the last surviving member of those rescued.
During those dark days, Jack showed himself to be a true soldier and conducted himself to the highest in his unselfish advice and assistance to his fellow POW and was always ready to render any help when requested by fellow POW.
On his return to Australia, Jack gave valuable information and assistance to the Australian authorities in their enquiries in relation to POW still in the hands of the Japanese.
When the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion Association was formed, Jack became a member and gave his support, still in his unselfish way, as treasurer and editor, for the last 24 years.
Ted’s address was followed by the standard RSL memorial service.
Col Hamley’s address: A tribute to my old mate.
I first met Jack in 1940 at Puckapunyal – we had joined the same unit, the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion and soon found we had both worked for the SEC prior to enlistment.
Pucka was also where I first met Joy, Jack’s lovely young girlfriend from the bush, where she used to visit Jack whenever possible. Jack and I spent a lot of time together and on weekend leave in Melbourne he would often visit my home, or we’d get together in the city for a few beers and a counter-lunch, usually at the old Phairs hotel in Collins Street.
Soon, however, the good times were over and we sailed off to the Middle East on the Queen Mary. It was then that I realized what an astute card player Jack was. Almost every day of that voyage we would settle down to a very serious game of Pontoon or Poker in a little school of about 5 or 6 players, with Jack usually managing to come out just that little bit in front!
In 1941 we staged our way through the campaign in Syria, then after a brief respite on garrison duty in Lebanon and Syria, we boarded the Orcades for what we hoped was a return to Australia.
But no – some genius in high command had decided that we should try to stop the Japs in Java! Well, I suppose we did slow them down for a few weeks, but then we were completely over run and we all finished up as Prisoners of War.
For the first six months or so in Prison Camp, Jack and I and others spent many long nights playing cards to pass the time away. Jack also introduced us to his other love – golf – at our first camp in Batavia by helping to set up a miniature golf course to relieve the day-time boredom.
In October 1942 we were moved from Java to Burma. Jack and I were separated by being drafted on to separate working groups, so we never met up again until early 1944. Then, only for a short while, before Jack was drafted on to another working party that was destined for Japan.
It was not until the war was over that I came to find out that the ship on which Jack sailed for Japan was sunk by an American submarine and a handful of survivors who had been floating around the South China Sea clinging to flotsam from the wreck of their ship had been picked up after spending four days in the water. Jack was one of those lucky few.
Jack returned home in October 1944 and wasted no time in that within six weeks he and Joy were married.
By January 1946, Jack was re-established back at work as a storekeeper with the SEC on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.
It was many years before Jack returned to work in Melbourne. He then renewed his ties with his old Battalion Association, the 2/2nd Pioneers and took up a position on the Committee, then later, the job of Treasurer, which he held for 24 years. Jack loved his old unit and endeared himself to everyone. Nothing was too much trouble. Whatever he did was done methodically and had to be spot on – that was our Jack.
He attracted and held on to friendships; he was always happy, whistling, loved a game of cards, loved a party, loved a joke, and certainly loved a beer. Jack, Joy, Val and I had many happy holidays together and we especially enjoyed for many years those Christmas get-togethers with their neighbours and friends in Grandview Road.
In his better days, Jack loved his golf and was certainly a better-than-average golfer. While living at Mount Beauty he played a leading role in the setting up of the Mount Beauty golf course. In later years he played at the Box Hill Golf Club where even when he became too unwell to play, he still loved the regular visits to the Clubhouse to catch up with old friends.
I remember many great times I had with Jack and a couple of other mates, playing in the annual RSL golf tournaments at Long Island. We loved those days – never did any good – but had great fun, always finishing up the day at the two-up school or the crown and anchor tables.
Many years ago Jack recalled some of his wartime memories to the American author Linda Holmes who wrote a book titled 4,000 Bowls of Rice. Linda was most impressed with Jack and his experiences and this week sent an email saying amongst other things: “I will never forget the awe I felt as I rode alongside Jack while he drove me to a barbeque at Jell’s Park in 1991. Here was this smiling, rosy-cheeked man, looking so fit and relaxed, quietly telling me about being torpedoed and eventually being rescued by that submarine, the Pampanito”. Linda Holmes finished by saying “I will always remember Jack as the quiet hero”.
I think that’s a great way to remember Jack – the quiet hero – right to the end. So long mate!
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Caulfield Cup Effort
1st = $250, 2nd = $100, 3rd = $50
All other final acceptors = $5
Tickets 50 cents each, Books of 4 tickets $2
The Caulfield Cup will be run on Saturday 18th October 2003. Butts & moneys are returnable in the envelope provided to KEN FRASER in time for the DRAW by 13th October. The draw will take place on 14th October.
As has been the case for the last couple of years, the draw will be confined to numbers 1 – 21, with 18 starters and 3 emergencies. (We are unable to obtain a list of Final Acceptors by the day of the Draw) These numbers are the saddle cloth numbers allocated to the horses in order of weight as listed in daily newspapers on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th October. If you are lucky enough to draw a number you’ll have to look up the newspapers to see which horse you will have running for you.
If you’d like a book or two of tickets phone Ken Fraser on (03) 9434 4670. He will be happy to oblige. We record who gets which tickets, so if they are to be in your name there is no need to record your name on the butts.
Please make cheques and postal orders payable to the 2/2nd Pioneer Association.
Shields, Badges, etc. (Phone Ted or Col)
Shields $50 Posted $55
Badges* $8 Posted $10
History Books $60 Posted $70
Car Stickers $1 Posted $1
*Please state which badge you want.
(Badge is available as brooch, pin or tie bar.)
Front Line Medals available from the 2/12th Battalion Association in Queensland.
Application forms from Ted Hansen or Col Hamley.
Donations
Acknowledged since our April 2003 newsletter…
$100 Ladies Auxiliary
$50 Dianne Blair, Bill Dowrick, Rod McGillien
Kay & Wal Packer, L. Pattinson
$40 George Howlett
$30 Nance Linton
$25 Iris Andrews-Taylor Muriel Colman,
Rona & Russ Harrison, Bob Sefton, Quita Shelton
$20 Fred Always, Des Halliday, Jean Murray-Falconer
Jack McGregor. Grace O’Hehin, Dub Smith,
Jim Wilson, Nola Vincent, Peter Nicoll
$10 George Carroll, Clarrie Christie, Mac English,
Linda Holmes, Don McClelland, Milada Matek
Peter Nicoll, Dorothy Willis, Snowy Youens
$5 Jack D’Argaville
Obituaries
The following 2/2nd Pioneers have passed away since the April 2003 newsletter:
AJE (Ted) Burkett 27 July 2003
LJ (Len) Dyer 6 April 2003
GW (Gill) Gunning 12 December 2002
JR (Jack) Hocking 26 May 2003
R (Roger) Monk 28 May 2003
A (Alex) McKenzie 7 June 2003
W (Bill) Robertson 8 May 2003
Harold Chapman June 2003
Bill Robertson, OAM, passed away on the 8th May 2003, aged 97 years, after spending 3 weeks in hospital. His well attended funeral on 13th May included 15 Pioneers. Allan Olsen, Russ & Rona Harrison flew from Adelaide to attend. Allan McInnes, the Association President, gave the eulogy. (Max Herron 2/1, 2/1 Pioneer Battalion Association advised us of the above.)
Roger Monk, of C-Company passed away on 28th May 2003, following a stroke he suffered earlier in May. The funeral service and burial took place in Pt Boughton. (Allan Olson of 2/1st, 2/2nd, 2/3rd, 2/4th Battalions Association advised of the above.)
Lest We Forget
Annual General Meeting
A full muster of available Committee members attended the Annual General Meeting held at the Artillery Depot, East St Kilda, on Tuesday 1st April 2003, including 2 honorary members.
At the election of office bearers Ted Hansen was unopposed as President for his 30th term – a great record! Congratulations Ted!!
On a sadder note Jack Hocking advised he would be unable to carry on as Treasurer or Editor of the Newsletter because of ill health. This brought to a close 24 years of outstanding service to the Association in these roles. It was moved that a special minute be recorded to this effect and a letter of appreciation be forwarded to Jack.
Ken Fraser (son of the late Stan Fraser) was elected to replace Jack Hocking as Treasurer and Ken was elected as a full committee member. Eleanor Newcombe (daughter of the late Cal Mitchell) was elected Editor of the Newsletter and elevated to full Committee status. Marita Lock, Frances McKay, and Lorraine Richards were appointed as Honorary Committee members.
It was agreed that the price of tickets and prizes for the Caulfield Cup Effort be the same as last year, and that we make the normal donations to Legacy, Carry-On, Ex-POW&RA, Salvation Army & Peter McCallum Cancer Research.
Website
The editorial staff is considering a 2/2nd Pioneer website. We’d welcome any suggestions or comments. Forward these to the Editor via phone, letter or email to:
Annual Memorial Service 15th June 2003
Despite the cold weather and some rain, a very good number attended our 58th Annual Pilgrimage at the Shrine of Remembrance. Our banner was carried followed by President Ted Hansen and Shrine Trustee David Kelly.
Once we were all gathered in the Inner Sanctum, Ted welcomed everyone attending in memory of those who had passed away over the past 62 years; to remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice in battle and those who had passed away since.
“We returned, but they did not. Many times each of us must have asked the question: Why me? Why was I spared? We may never know.
Each one of us who came back must believe it was for a purpose. Let us this day remind ourselves of what we have done with our lives, are doing, can do, and will.
So we who returned meet today to pay tribute to those who have passed on and to comfort those they love.
We come to this special place each year because we feel that in that common experience we shared, so long ago, there are many things we would not want to forget.
We choose to come to this special place because it is set apart as a place of reflection and meditation and of remembrance and it is Holy ground”
Col Hamley then read out the names of the 2/2nd Pioneers who have passed away since our 2002 Pilgrimage. Ted then welcomed the younger generation to participate in today’s service. Frances McKay daughter of the late Tom & Nancy O’Loughlin gave a formal address, followed by Susan Tovey, daughter of the late Mick Field, who read the 23rd Psalm.