604 Sqn AAFC – Honour the Fallen, Respect the Living

For several years now, No 604 Squadron AAFC (Hampstead Barracks) has supported the Remembrance Day Ceremony conducted by Modbury High School.

CAPTION: Modbury High School Remembrance Day ceremony participants (front row, from left): CCPL Joshua Watson (Guard Commander); CCPL Anthony Sanchez; FLGOFF (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig; Don Cameron; Joanne Costa, Principal; Brian Selby; David Kschammer, Deputy Principal; LCDT Zain Carse; LCDT Mikale Durham; LCDT Byron Barnes-Williams. Image courtesy Modbury High School.

This year’s ceremony was held as a special school assembly on Thursday 9 November.

The students and Australian Air Force Cadets are all very aware of the significance of Remembrance Day as an occasion to remember and commemorate the fallen from all wars, but the cadets of 604 Squadron also understand that remembrance and commemoration can be a very personal thing – recalling a family member who served.

No 604 Squadron has also had a long association with the SA & NT Branch of the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans’ Association Australia Inc.

This year, the squadron arranged for two very special guests to attend the Modbury High School ceremony – Branch President and Vice-President Brian Selby and Don Cameron.

Mr Selby was the guest speaker, and recited the Ode of Remembrance. He had served with the Royal Australian Regiment of Artillery during the Indonesian Confrontation, in an early-warning observation post at RAAF Base Butterworth in Kedah, Malaysia, and then in counter-insurgency patrols along the Thai-Malay Border with infantry units of the 17^th Gurkha Division.

Mr Cameron served as a corporal in three battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment between 1962 and 1968, notably at Terendak Garrison in Malacca, Malaysia, and during Confrontation in counter-insurgency patrols along the Thai-Malay Border and in Sarawak, Borneo.

 

In an ANZAC connection, one of the Air Force Cadets in this year’s Catafalque Party was Leading Cadet Zain Carse, on duty to honour his grandfather Corporal Dave Carse of the New Zealand Army.

Corporal Carse first served with the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Regiment (which had been formed on 9 January 1947). He deployed in 1957-59 during the Malayan Emergency with the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, which was assigned to the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade. Dave Carse died at home in Wanganui, New Zealand on 5 September 2015, aged 90. At that time he had 23 grandchildren and seven-and-a-half great-grandchildren. He was laid to rest in the Aramoho Lawn Cemetery.

This year was also special Mr Cameron who was able to meet up with his grand-daughter Megan, a student at Modbury High School.

6 Wing Public Affairs Officer Flying Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig said, “Remembrance Day is about reflecting on the sacrifices our forebears made during war”.

“But in many ways today, it’s also a chance for veterans to reflect on what we’ve been through and support our mates, and for families to honour their own personal veterans”.

 

At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning . . .
We will Remember them
Lest we Forget

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