When Carinity seniors’ communities stop to honour those who have died in war for Remembrance Day on November 11, it will be a particularly poignant time for Colin Dunkley and Ted Jacobs.
A former Australian Army corporal who lives at the community in Rockhampton, Colin is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
The 76-year-old did two tours of Vietnam as part of the 17th Construction Squadron, an Australian Army unit consisting of personnel drawn mainly from the Royal Australian Engineers.
On his first tour (1968-1969), Colin and his squadron constructed roads to Nue Dat. On his second tour (1971-1972), he unloaded ships in Bun Tau which came under mortar attack.
Following the end of the war, Colin and his wife, Robyn, built a Vietnam veterans retreat near Mildura called . It was named after a lifelong friend killed in action in the Vietnam War, when a landmine exploded.
According to Ted Jacobs, “getting a bit restless” working on a Norfolk farm and “wanting to see a bit of the world” motivated the then 17-year-old to voluntarily enlist for the same British army regiment of which his father and grandfather had previously been members.
“My father served in World War I and my grandfather served in the North-West Frontier in India and Pakistan, fighting against the Pathan,” Ted said.
Ted served in countries such as Germany, Japan, England and Hong Kong in the 1950s. He was engaged in the Korean War, stationed on the 38th Parallel, the borderline which divides modern day North and South Korea.
Later recalled to active duty, Ted was part of a British army infantry battalion which was based at the Suez Canal in Egypt.
Now 88 years old and living at the in Highfields, Ted believes it is important for all people to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers on Remembrance Day.
“I think we should all reflect on how the people who have died young have giving everything for what we have today.”
