103-year-old ‘Swannie’ among SA’s WWII veterans commemorating Remembrance Day
Three of South Australia’s surviving World War II servicemen were at West Terrace Cemetery today to commemorate Remembrance Day, 103-year-old “Swannie” joined up at just 15 years of age.
Three of South Australia’s surviving World War II servicemen were joined by around 200 people at West Terrace Cemetery today for Remembrance Day – marking the end of the First World War in 1918 and commemorating all Australians who have lost their lives in war.
The service was held at the Cross of Sacrifice in the Australian Imperial Forces section of West Terrace Cemetery — the country’s oldest dedicated military burial ground — which holds the resting places for more than 4,000 military personnel who served in both World Wars.
Each gravesite today had its own red poppy, placed there by school children.
Among the group was Adelaide veteran Reg “Swannie” Swanborough, who recently celebrated his 103rd birthday and served in the Royal Navy for the British during the Second World War before serving in the Royal Australian Navy.
“I joined up with 32 other boys, we were boys all of us 15 [years old], and to the very best of my knowledge two others and myself came home alive,” he said.
“I didn’t go to sea until July or August of 1940, and by which time a lot of those boys were already dead.”
You might like
The friends were on the HMS Courageous, a battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy, that sunk in September of 1939 just weeks after WWII had started.
Swanborough took part in Arctic convoys which was said to be “the worst journey in the world” by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
“War is not nice, believe me, it is not nice. No one comes to Remembrance Day to glorify war,” Swanborough says, dressed with his medals for this service.
“History is very important because it repeats itself. I can see the 1930s all over again with what’s happening now.”
It was 100-year-old Brian Ellis who was the youngest of the veterans at the service, he joined the Royal Australian Navy at just 17 years of age.
“On the boat we looked after each other pretty well and backed each other up, so I was sorry to leave the navy.”
Ellis said Remembrance Day was an important event to honour those who had served for the country.
Stay informed, daily
“I just feel sorry for everyone, the families that have lost people,” Ellis said.
“It makes you feel proud — you’ve got the young children that are recognising what these people have done for them.”
The other veteran in attendance was Harvey Brown who turns 102 in December.
Brown served with the 108 Tank Attack Regiment, formed at Wayville in 1942, and he saw service in the Southwest Pacific on Morotai and at Ambon.
He also served with 64 Battalion as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation force in Japan.
Adelaide Cemeteries CEO Michael Robertson said it “was an honour” to have the WWII veterans in attendance.
“They have been attending this service for a long time and it’s just an absolute privilege to have them here.”
All 4,167 gravesites at West Terrace Cemetery for military personnel were adorned with a red poppy, placed on the graves by school students.
“It’s also a day to ensure that future generations understand what has occurred and it’s great to see the school students placing poppies, attending and being an active part of service,” Robertson said.
The state’s Veterans’ Affairs Minister Joe Szakacs joined a service at the South Australian National War Memorial on North Terrace and said “it is a day to reflect on the courage of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today”.
“On Remembrance Day, South Australians stand together to honour all who have served our nation and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
