Doug Bishop wrote:
Peter Duell was a National Serviceman that served as the Platoon Signaller with 6 Platoon, B Company, 5 RAR on their first tour of Vietnam from 12 May 1966 to 12 May 1967.

This morning I spoke with Elizabeth Duell and can now advise that Peter’s funeral service will be held on Friday, 3rd February at 1430 hrs. The service will be conducted at St Georges Anglican Church, 300 Glenferrie Road, Malvern (Melways Ref. Map 57, C7, about 200 metres North of the High Street intersection). It would be appropriate for medals to be worn.

At the conclusion of the service, at a hall nearby Peter’s family have invited attendees to join them in some alcohol free refreshments for an hour or so, to celebrate and acknowledge the passing of a very good man, before his time.

To: Victorian members of the 5 RAR Association,

Peter Duell was the Platoon Sig for 6 Platoon on 5 RAR's first tour of Vietnam.
Last year he was diagnosed with a particularly virulent form of Motor Neurone Disease. He passed away on Saturday, 28 January 2012. (Melways Ref. Map 57, C7).  Where applicable, medals should be worn. There will be non-alcoholic refreshments for an hour or so after the service.

For those who knew Peter and are unable to attend the funeral, you may wish to send his wife Elizabeth a Sympathy Card, or letter to:

Mrs Elizabeth Duell
P O Box 174
BRIGHTON VIC 3186

My apologies for the short notice.

Doug Bishop
5RAR Association
Victorian Representative.
03 9744 5035
0437 653 577

Rest in peace Peter

Don Harrod wrote:

I am sorry to have to advise that Ken Black, a member of 8Pl C Company  (2nd tour) passed away yesterday, 18th January 2012.

From available information, we think that Ken had volunteered for National Service, as he only 20 when he was sent to Vietnam. He was posted from 1ARU to C Company 5RAR in September 1969. Ken was wounded in February 1970 on Operation Bondi near Xuyen Moc, and returned to Australia with the main body on HMAS Sydney.

 After he returned to Australia, Ken seemed to have disappeared off the map. Bob Hooper met up with Ken in 2008, where it was revealed that Ken had spent some twenty years living in a tent in the bush. He was not aware of available entitlements at that time. We know that Ken had two sisters and a brother.

Ken was the sort of bloke that the Australian Army is all about. He was a digger, pretty laid back, did his job, and didn’t attract a lot of attention. Perhaps he was typical of the diggers that we hear about  when it’s too late – the diggers that Australia didn’t want to know.

Alan Riley, Ken's section 2 I/C, said the following: “Kenny carried the M79 for us (6 Section) he liked the idea of just it and a 9mm pistol. He did change his ideas on that after a contact up in the Nui Dinh Mountains but not sure if he did go back to carrying a SLR. Kenny was, if I recall correctly slightly built – wiry probably more like - and very likable. Got on with things, did his job, didn’t bitch and minded his own business. A sad day.”

 Rest in Peace old mate – you have attended your last parade.

Funeral details are:
 
Date: Wednesday 25th January 2012.
Time: 1030 hours
Place: Mary Mother of Mercy Chapel and Crematorium, Rookwood Cemetery.

From the CO 5RAR:

The Battalion lost one of its soldiers on the 31st of December 2011.  PTE Sam Osborne was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident at Tweed Heads.  A brief service history of PTE Osborne follows:

8551119, Private Sam Osborne, enlisted into the Australian Regular Army on the 9th of February 2009. PTE Osborne completed Initial Employment Training on the 21st of August 2009 and was posted to the 5th Battalion (Mech) the Royal Australian Regiment.

PTE Osborne was assigned to Operation Slipper on the 17th of September 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Provincial Reconstruction Task Force on the 5th of October 2010. He returned from service in Afghanistan on the 6th of July 2011. For his service in Operation Slipper, PTE Sam Osborne was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with ICAT Clasp, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO – ISAF Medal and the Infantry Combat Badge. 

PTE Osborne's funeral will be held at the Uniting Church, Dalley St, Mullumbimby on Wed 11 Jan at 1100h. The Battalion is providing bearers, a firing party and the OPSO, MAJ Dave French, will be the official mourner and deliver the military eulogy. The Battalion will affix a plaque to the Brigade Non-Operation Death memorial Wall in due course.

A young Tiger at rest