As ANZAC DAY approaches we remember the men who took part in the various wars in a number of different countries - our local paper has chronicled many events concerning local participants and the following are just a few.

WWl. Private Fred Brady – Official intimation has been received that Private Fred G. Brady, youngest son of Mrs. M.A. Brady, of Mosman, has been killed in France. In civil life Private Brady was on the clerical staff of the Railway Department and for some time was attached to the Railway Station at Singleton. Several of his brothers reside at Gouldsville. Private Brady was one of three brothers who answered the Empire's call. One brother is now on the firing line in France and the other is in camp. Flags were flown at half-mast yesterday as a token of respect to the deceased soldier. Singleton Argus 16/12/1916.

WWl. Light Horse leave for Camp – The Singleton Half Squadron of the Light Horse left by special train for the Menangle Camp about 6pm yesterday. The men entrained here in compnay with the Muswellbrook and Scone detachments and go into camp for fifteen days continuous training. Lieutenant A.G. Brady is in command of the local men. They number about thirty while the full strength is about sixty. Of the total some twenty-five members are now on active service with the AIF. Singleton Argus 27/3/1917.

WWl. Returned Soldiers - On Christmas Eve two more of our local soldiers returned after several years of active service abroad. They were Sergeant G. Kime of Glendon and Private Hunter Gibson of George Street. Both men arrived by the Brisbane Mail and there was a large gathering at the Station to meet them. On Christmas night two more of our lads, Sergeant-Major D. Ryan of Redbournberry, and Gunner Harry Jarrett of Carrowbrook, arrived here but their coming was not generally known so there was only a moderate crowd to greet them. Singleton Argus 28/12/1918.

WW11. POW in Fanciscan Monastery - Private Gavan Maher, son of Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Maher of George Street, who has been a Prisoner of War in Germany for many months, in a letter to his parents, says - 'He is in good health'. He states that he is now working in a Franciscan Monastery, which is ever so much better than his previous employment on a farm. The Monks are very good and treat him wonderfully well, in fact they cannot do enough for him. 'We all received sweaters and socks and new English uniforms from England through the Red Cross' he says. 'They were very handy. I received one pair of socks from Canada and have written and thanked the lady for them. We are having some warm weather here at present but it is nowhere near as hot as in good old Aussie'. Singleton Argus 6/11/1942.

WW11. Working for 10 cents a day - Gunner Alan Stapleton, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Stapleton of Glendonbrook, who was taken prisoner by the Japanese during the Malayan Campaign, informs his parents in a letter, that he is working as a Prisoner in Burma for 10 cents a day. Gunner Stapleton added that everything was OK and that there was no need to worry. He was with good friends, other, of course than the soldiers of Nippon. Singleton Argus 1/10/1943

WW11. Private Dallas Oldknow - Another of Singleton's liberated Prisoners of War to return home is Private Dallas Oldknow, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Oldknow of Andrew Street. Despite his ordeal, the young officer looks fit. When he enlisted he was 12 stone weight, but during work for the Japanese on the Burma Railway, his weight fell to 7 stone. He is now back to 10 stone. During his imprisonment Private Oldknow saw a number of singleton boys, whilst he also had information of others from here. When Harry Weiss passed away, news of whose death was received a short time ago, Private Oldknow was in the same Hospital with him. On the occasion of the death of Ernie Cox, Private Oldknow was attached to the working party at the Hospital where Private Cox went to his rest. Singleton Argus 12/10/1945.

KOREA. Local Man Missing in Korea - Acting on information from singleton, Sydney Police today broke the bad news to Mrs. Margaret Bourke, of 19 Macquarie Street, that her son, Private Edmund Bourke (Sonny), was reported wounded in Korea, is now listed as missing. Sonny Bourke apparently was missing after the same action, in Korea, in which Private Robert (Bobbie) Boyle, of Bishopgate Street, was wounded. On Monday afternoon Robert's mother, Mrs. C.E. Boyle, was officially notified that her son had been wounded in the hand and had been evacuated to the Sixty Indian Field Ambulance. Close friends, Bobby and Sonny, who were formerly employed by the New South Wales Railways, both volunteered together for service in Korea about a year ago and were in the same Unit when it left Sydney in November last for the battle front. Singleton Argus 10/6/1953.

KOREA. Korea Vet Ill - Korea War Veteran, Albert Khan Jnr., has been admitted to Concord Repatriation Hospital suffering from a kidney complaint. His condition is serious. Albert, who had been in good health since his return from Korea, last Chrismas Eve was admitted to the District Hospial about a fortnight ago. It was subsequently discovered that he was suffering from a kidney complaint caused by a dysentary infection. He was seriously ill and it was decided to take him to Concord. He made the trip in the Singleton Ambulance. His father visited him last Tuesday but his condition was unchanged. Sing1eton Argus 30/7/1954.

VIETNAM. We don't have small articles, as above, for this War, in our files concerning local men, mainly because I haven't caught up with the relevant newspapers to date. However, we do have several profiles relating to the Vietnam period, these being David de Somer, Phil Fletcher and Thomas Gary Reidy. These were profiles given at the High School Anzac Day Services by pupils, with the exception of Phil Fletcher, whose article was in the Singleton Argus. The services, organized by teacher, Nigel Cox, are very memorable experiences - Nigel's father being a WW11 vet. There have been profiles relating to other wars, as well, and are most interesting, and I for one would love to have them all for our files. They are read by pupils who have help with their subject from the person-in- profile and there is an interesting feeling for one in the audience, with the vet-in-profile, in person, sitting nearby on the stage.

They are all worthy of remembrance - those who returned - those who didn't - in all conflicts.
ARTICLE BY PEGGY RICHARDS…