The latest edition – 103 - of ‘Cannonball’ is also available on the RAAHC web site and on the Australian Artillery Association website www.australianartilleryassociation.org From Ben Lans on 25 September. Hey Peter, Just thought I would give you an update on the recent 108 Reunion that was held at Crows Nest, near Toowoomba, 12-15 September. Organised by Harry Pregnell, Ian Taylor and Ian Biggs, with a bit of impetus from Dave Toseland to get it started. it turned out to be a small event but incredibly successful and enjoyable for those who attended. Although we had hoped to attract more old members, the ones that did come were mostly from that late 70’s early 80’s time. Some guys brought their wives and made a camping trip out of it, On one of the nights we showed some piccies of the river adventures we had all those years ago and some of the guy’s wives were quite shocked to see what their husbands had achieved. All in the name of adventure training! Anyway, why Crow’s Nest over three nights in the middle of nowhere you ask? Well, it provided the perfect relaxed ‘bush’ venue where we had time to relax, chat to each other in our own time and remake old friendships from over 40 years ago. And, most importantly we could have a campfire and sing songs from back then and have a few beers and then a few whiskeys and tell each other how great the old days were. And… when we were all talked out and wondered back to our vans and cabins thinking that we had partied way into the night, we discovered that it was only 1030! ‘Age shall not weary them’, except when it does! We hope to do it again within the next 18 months or so and considering how well this one went, let’s hope more ex 108 members come. Venue and date TBA. All the best Pete, Ben The following is from an article in ‘Frontline” attributed to Ernie Chamberlain D445 VC Battalion's "762 martyrs" memorialized on the Baria Monument In late November 2024, the VC D445 Memorial was formally inaugurated in the park on Bà Rịa Town’s southern outskirts. The memorial included a listing of the Battalion’s “martyrs” sacrificed during the Vietnam War. A recent on-line press item has included the following text: “Hai bên tượng đài được trân trọng lưu danh 762 liệt sĩ của Tiểu đoàn 445. Bia ghi công tóm tắt những thành tích nổi bật của Tiểu đoàn, trong đó khắc ghi: “Tiểu đoàn 445 là biểu tượng sáng ngời của chủ nghĩa anh hùng cách mạng và truyền thống chiến đấu của quân đội ta, là niềm kiêu hãnh, tự hào của Nhân dân Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu với đặc điểm tiêu biểu là bám đất, bám dân, gắn chặt với phong trào cách mạng của quần chúng”. English translation: “Both sides of the monument respectfully recount the names of the 762 martyrs of the 445th Battalion. The stela cites a summary of the outstanding achievements of the Battalion including the engraving that records: “445 Battalion symbolizes the brilliance of the heroic revolutionary ideology and the fighting tradition of our armed forces, with innermost feelings of pride by the People of Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, and with the particular traits symbolizing the holding onto ground and being closely connected with the people and the revolutionary movement of the masses.”
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