3795072 POTTER, John Anthony "Potz."
15 June 1948 - 26 March 2020.
PTE John ‘Potz’ Potter died on Thursday 26 March.
John deployed to South Vietnam on 6 August 1969 and was posted to 1 ARU
until 22 August. He then joined 5 RAR and served in the Assault Pioneers
Platoon, Support Company, for the balance of the Battalion’s Tour of
Duty. John returned to Australia with the Battalion aboard HMAS Sydney
on 5 March 1970. He served with the Victorian Police service, attaining
the rank of Senior Sergeant upon his retirement.
Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic a service for John’s Remembrance
will be held at a later date.
Gary Townsend
Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor
3786932 MELKI, Abraham "Abe."
25 April 1945 - 20 March 2020.
On
Friday 20 March PTE Abraham ‘Abe’ Melki died suddenly due to a massive
heart attack, he had recently attended the 2020 Reunion.
Abe completed his recruit training at 2 RTB and was immediately posted to 5 RAR, at Holsworthy, in early September 1965. He joined 8 Platoon, C Company, where he received his Corps Training and was then transferred to the Mortar Platoon. Abe was deployed with Mortar Platoon to South Vietnam on 6 May 1966. He served with Mortars until he returned to Australia with the Battalion aboard HMAS Sydney on 12 May 1967.
The funeral for the Late Abraham Melki has now been confirmed. It
will be held this coming Friday the 27th of March 11:30am at St Nicholas
Antiochian Orthodox Church (176 Simpson Street, East Melbourne).
At the conclusion of the mass the burial will take place at Fawkner
Cemtery (Old Fawkner) in the Chapel Lawn Section, entering via Sydney
Road.
Gary Townsend
Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor
215945 MASHFORD, Robert Leslie.
10 December 1940 - 29 November 2019.
We
have belatedly received information that LCPL Robert ‘Bob’ Mashford died
on Friday 29 November 2019.
Bob deployed to South Vietnam with the Battalion on 10 May 1966 and
served until his return to Australia with the Advance Party on 3 March
1967. Later in his ADF service he transferred to Royal Australian Corps
of Military Police and attained the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1.
A Funeral Service was held for Bob at Purslowe & Chipper Funerals,
Rockingham, WA on Wednesday 11 December 2019.
Gary Townsend
Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor
37675 LEADBEATER, William Keith.
13 December 1939 - 7 March 2020.
LCPL
William ‘Bill’ Leadbeater suffered a sudden heart attack, on Saturday 7
March and died, at his home in Wingham, NSW.
Bill was a foundation member of the 5th Battalion, joining the Transport
Platoon as a driver for Admin Company on 1 March 1965. He held that
position on the South Vietnam deployment of the Battalion until he
returned to Australia on 9 May 1967. On 10 February 1970 he re-deployed
to South Vietnam with 7 RAR and served there until 9 July of that year.
A private family funeral will be held for Bill.
Gary Townsend
Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor
2791054 SMITH, Stephen Charles "Smithy."
13 May 1948 - 6 March 2020.
PTE
Stephen ‘Smithy’ Smith of Boggabri NSW died on Friday 6 March, he had
been enduring dementia for some time and had recently entered a care
facility.
Stephen deployed to 1 ARU in South Vietnam on 30 July 1969 and served
with that unit until he joined 5 RAR on 20 August 1969. He served in 3
Section, 10 Platoon, D Company as a rifleman, he was a good team member
and a likable digger. He was returned to Australian due to compassionate
reasons on 29 October 1969.
A Funeral Service will be held for Stephen at 1000 hrs Monday the
16/3/20 at St Barnabas Anglican Church, 86 Laidlaw St, Boggabri NSW.
Gary Townsend
Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor
4717496 GORDON, Duncan John.
6 January 1945 - 26 February 2020.
PTE Duncan Gordon, late of Sellicks Beach SA, died on Wednesday 26
February. He had been suffering from throat cancer for quite some time
and had been in a care facility for a few weeks.
Duncan deployed to South Vietnam aboard HMAS Sydney with 9 Section, 9
Platoon, C Company on 22 April 1966. He served as a rifleman in that
section for approximately six months and then worked in the Sergeant’s
Mess for the remainder of the tour. He returned to Australia with the
Battalion, aboard HMAS Sydney on 12 May 1967.
Duncan’s funeral will be held at St Annes Anglican Church, 7 Stonehouse
Lane, Aldinga at 11am on the 13th of March.
Gary Townsend
Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor