Guestbook

I am a teacher at the ESHS and was lucky enough to accompany the 10 students from our school this year. As a born South African who spend my last 8 years in UK I was not emotionaly or mentally prepared for what was installed for me! I was looking forward to learn more about Thailand and to hear the war stories from the people who have been there. My family and I got aquinted with Ernie Redman through out our fundraising events during December 2007, I was looking forward in accompanying him and relive a part of history. However – it became a personal journey for me … I only came to realise that every single person in this generation has a link to WWI and WWII – my own grandfather was an POW in Italy after he fought under the British flag in Egypt. My husband’s grandfather was a POW in Java – comming on this tour gave me personal growth in realising that all these people, soldiers, mothers, wifes, sisters, uncles or children had paid a price. I came to realise that it was worth it for each one of them as they truely loved their countries and believed in what they were doing. Most of all I went as an oursider but came back an AUSTRALIAN – and I am proud of it! Thank you very much to the tour opperator Eric for a most interesting, funfilled tour. Thank you very much to the chairman Roger and his team for making history part of my story. However I am the most greatful to our exPOWs, Bill, Snow, Ernie, Wallie and Neil for sharing their emotional momories with us! You guys are GREAT and we will ALWAYS be thankful!

I have learned a lot on this tour – the greatest lesson of all was the one about Mateship. Neil’s poem at the reef laying service was very dear to me but became truely meaningful when after the serice Snow was doing the rounds and visited all his mates who died, saluted them and made a toast to each one of them. I hope that I will also one day be just as priveledge to have great mates. Another picture comes to mind when Bill was telling a story of Toby at the cutting and with tears in his eyes he had to stop as he became so overwhelmed. Ernie’s mate Toby meant a lot to all! Thank you for sharing with us – we are very priveledge!

It was the greatest experience in my life! I would like to thank every one for the support and effort they have put into the QLT 2008. I was looking forward to the trip but did not think in my wildest dreams that I would learn and grow that much! The whole Anzac day and the build up to it showed me what a great gift we have received from our anchestors who fought in the WWII and other wars. They gave their lives so that we can have freedom and liberty – may we never forget that! I will make it my own personal mission to tell all my friends and my own children one day, about the priveledge to be an Australian. The exPOWs are true heroes and we are so privledge that they are still here to share their story with us. THANK YOU!!!

I took part in the 2008 QLT. Best experience of my life, met loads of people and it changed my view on life. Thanks everyone for making it happen. Hope to meet up with you all soon. xo

To all those who make the Quiet Lion Tour what it is today, Thank you so much to every one who make the Quiet Lion Tour go on each year. I had the best time on the tour. It was the best thing i have ever done and i hope to come back next year. I would like to put out a special thankyou to eric wilson who does so much for the tour… i appreciate it eric. and also to mr bill haskell. you are an amazing man bill. for you to get up there to thailand with your leg in a brace just for us kids is amazing. thank you so much for your stories and songs. love alysha jolly Carnamah District High School

Great site. Tells a lot about forgotten past

I am hpoing someone from in this site can help – long – sorry BUT I was fostered in 1968 and have only recently found out i am the Grandaughter of Pte Eric Napolean Oxley NX35360.. 2/20th Battalion – yes i have his war records – Anyway i am researching my biological family tree and i saw in granddads records that he was a POW in Malaya. If anyone has any info they can give me i would be eternally grateful as he is now deceased. His son helps a little but i know talking about his father pains him. Please feel free to email me if you knew or knew of my granddad. Thank you in advance…. Kath

Thanks for the great site. As we approach Anzac Day 2008, recent attention on the TBR inspired me to do a bit more research and so I find myself here. My father was Pte J.A. Daley, 105 Aust Gen Tspt Coy (Petrol Park) VX27086. Jack, or Jim as he was also known, passed away in Dec. 2005 aged 92. One book that may be worthy of inclusion in your reading list is ‘One fourteenth of an elephant’ by Ian Denys Peek. (ISBN 0 7329 1168 0). Dad thought this Englishman’s ‘matter-of-fact’ description of the daily difficulties of PoW life gave a good account of how it was. Salutations to all PoWs, returned servicemen and servicewomen and their family and friends. Lest We Forget

Harry Nankivell , VX18564 was in 2/2 Pioneer Battalion and a POW somewhere in Thailand. His theatre of war was Java after the Middle East. Harvey was the dear partner to my grandmother and a gentler, kinder and more humble man you’d never find. Never a harsh word for anyone. He’d rather leave the room. I’d love to meet someone else that knew Harvey and could tell me a story or two.

I am doing some research on my Family, and the involvement on the Burma Railway. Anyone at all have any info on my late Grandfather Donald Shipston? Any information at all would be much appreciated. Ta