Tag Archives: ANZAC

KING OF THE SPITS

Issue Number: 4904
King Of The Spits

The letter read: “I, Count Ernst Von Steiger, the Red Arrow challenge the leader of this squadron to a personal duel at noon tomorrow. I shall be waiting at 16,000 feet at British Map Ref. 481609.” And just before noon a lone Spitfire took off. At the controls was young Mike Carson, the pilot they […]

THE MORTAR BOYS

Issue Number: 4897
The Mortar Boys

Brothers Vic and George Adams were part of a Pacific Expeditionary Force mortar team. They had been tasked with engaging the Japanese on Mono Island in the South Pacific. Their superior officer, Lieutenant Jeff Danten, was not keen on mortars, seeing them as a waste of time compared to a decent machine-gun. It didn’t help […]

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Issue Number: 4896
The Great Escape

Ted Malloy knew him as Corporal Don Granger of the Australian Army, his best pal, young, dark-haired and full of spirit. The Kachins, a Burmese tribe, knew him as “Urgu” – their Holy Man, chief and river god, tall with a lined face, bronzed skin, a mop of snow-white hair, and no memory of any […]

DANGER AHEAD

Issue Number: 4858
Danger Ahead

A stretch of treacherous water to cross, and no boat to do it in… All they had was a few plywood drop tanks jettisoned from aircraft, lengths of bamboo, bits of wood…and their courage. Yes, they needed courage most of all, for entering that stretch of water risked a horrifying death. In the search for […]

TANK BUSTER!

Issue Number: 4840
Tank Buster

TWO old tanks – two knocked-out Italian tanks whose guns still worked, and were trained on the prison camp fence – these and some vicious strands of barbed wire were what stood between a crowd of desperate British prisoners and freedom. Captain Al Kelly and Lieutenant Pete Smith reckoned there was a fighting chance of […]

FROZEN BY FEAR

Issue Number: 4789
Frozen By Fear

Most jungle firefights are fought over short range and are over in a few minutes. Vision is limited and snap shots at targets are the order of the day. Australian Army Corporal Jerry Warner was caught up in one such skirmish. With night falling and his life in jeopardy, he blazed away, knocking down attacker […]