The Naval Association

The Naval Association

of Australia

VA124 Saturday 27 August 2005
AUSTRALIAN VETERANS DEPART FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMEMORATIONS TO MARK OFFICIAL END OF WWII
A group of 17 veterans and one war widow departed for Hawaii today to attend
international commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of Victory in the
Pacific and the signing of the Japanese surrender in World War II.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, De-Anne Kelly, said the group was
farewelled at a ceremony held at Victoria Barracks in Sydney.

Mrs Kelly, who leads the mission party, said the Australians would attend a
major commemorative service on 2 September aboard the battleship USS
Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the signing of the official surrender by Japan.

"The signing of the surrender aboard USS Missouri, then in Tokyo Bay, on 2
September 1945 was the official end of World War II," she said.

"The mission party attending this ceremony will represent the Australian
servicemen and women who served in the Pacific and South East Asian theatres
of World War II, from December 1941 to August 1945.

"This service included the Pacific and Indian Oceans and in South East Asia,
at sea, on land and in the air in regions including Malaya and Singapore,
Burma, Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines
and Borneo."

Mrs Kelly said the delegation would be accompanied by the National President
of the RSL, Major General Bill Crews (Retd), and the National President of
the Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council, Rear Admiral Ian
Crawford (Retd), representing the wider veteran community.

"Australians were involved in the Pacific and South East Asian theatres of
World War II from 1941 to 1945 with more than 19 000 killed, 15 000 wounded
and 22 000 taken prisoner of war," she said.

"Each member of the party has a unique World War II story and their taking
part in this commemorative mission will allow some of their stories to be
shared with fellow Australians, so we may better understand our wartime
history.
"I look forward to travelling with this special group of Australians as they
witness a ceremony that commemorates the end of World War II."

Media contact: Craig Clarke 0417 889 423
Editor's note: List of veteran representatives follows.

60th anniversary Victory in the Pacific commemorative mission 2005

Veteran representatives

Name Service State

Norma Allen War widow NT
Frederick Anderson RAAF NSW
Jean Brown Army Vic
George Churchward              Army
Qld
Leslie Cook Army ACT
Alexander Cumming              RAAF
WA
Hugh Eadie Army NSW
Charles Edwards Army Vic
Maric Gilbert Army Vic
John Lemcke RAAF Qld
Francis McGovern RAN NSW
Harold Ogilvie              RAAF
Tas
Gregory Rosman RAN Vic
Ronald Scott Army NSW
James Short Merchant Navy
NSW
William Storey              RAAF
Vic
Cedric Wells RAN SA
George Willrath              RAN
Vic

Invited Guests

Major General Bill Crews (Retd)
National President
Returned & Services League of Australia

Rear Admiral Ian Crawford RAN (Retd)
National President
Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council