Cambrai Day Commemoration Dinner
Cambrai Day is commemorated by RAACA Vic each year with a dinner held around the middle of November each year. This is the premiere event of the Association. Here are reports from previous events.
76th Anniversary Cambrai Dinner 2022
Due to the unavoidable absence of the scheduled guest speaker Mick O’Brien AM,
President Peter Branagan delivered this year’s Cambrai address.
President Peter Branagan delivered this year’s Cambrai address.
The move of the Cambrai celebration from Puckapunyal to Greensborough RSL has again proved to be an outstanding success with 65 members and guests sitting down to a great lunch and availing themselves of the sub branch’s first class facilities and hospitality. Many thanks to President Lee Webb for his support
75th Anniversary Cambrai Dinner 2021
The move of the Cambrai celebration from Puckapunyal to Greensborough RSL proved to be an outstanding
success with over 80 members and guests sitting down to a great lunch and availing themselves of the sub branch’s first class facilities and hospitality. Many thanks to President Lee Webb for his support.
Our Guest Speaker for this year’s Cambrai Dinner was Mrs Honor Auchinleck, granddaughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel. She attended with her husband Colonel Mark Auchinleck (Retd) formerly of the Scots Dragoon Guards.
Mrs Auchinleck grew up on the family property at Towong Hill near Corryong in NE Victoria. Apart from operational tours she accompanied her husband on all his postings, learning relevant languages while working in teaching, journalism and archaeological roles. She published a memoir, Elyne Mitchell: A Daughter Remember in 2012 about her mother and completed her doctorate in 2014 at La Trobe University.
As her grandfather’s death on 4 March 1945 was before her birth, Mrs Auchinleck said during her childhood he was an enigmatic figure who looked down from George Lambert’s portrait that used to hang above the mantelpiece in her grandmother’s dining room. Through travels with her husband, however, she has been able to trace her grandfather’s exploits. She has allowed us to include her speech in Track and you can download a copy by clicking HERE.
success with over 80 members and guests sitting down to a great lunch and availing themselves of the sub branch’s first class facilities and hospitality. Many thanks to President Lee Webb for his support.
Our Guest Speaker for this year’s Cambrai Dinner was Mrs Honor Auchinleck, granddaughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel. She attended with her husband Colonel Mark Auchinleck (Retd) formerly of the Scots Dragoon Guards.
Mrs Auchinleck grew up on the family property at Towong Hill near Corryong in NE Victoria. Apart from operational tours she accompanied her husband on all his postings, learning relevant languages while working in teaching, journalism and archaeological roles. She published a memoir, Elyne Mitchell: A Daughter Remember in 2012 about her mother and completed her doctorate in 2014 at La Trobe University.
As her grandfather’s death on 4 March 1945 was before her birth, Mrs Auchinleck said during her childhood he was an enigmatic figure who looked down from George Lambert’s portrait that used to hang above the mantelpiece in her grandmother’s dining room. Through travels with her husband, however, she has been able to trace her grandfather’s exploits. She has allowed us to include her speech in Track and you can download a copy by clicking HERE.
More details are in the December 2021 issue of Track and photos from the event are on the Gallery page on this website.
Cambrai Dinner 2019
The formal highlight of our social calendar – the annual commemoration of the Battle of Cambrai was celebrated again at the School of Armour Officers/Sergeants Mess on Saturday 23 November. Keldie Hall was the venue as usual and witnessed 56 members and guests in attendance. The 1st Armoured Regiment Cambrai Parade in Adelaide robbed us of a number of our regulars despite our best efforts to de-conflict with their activity!
The 102nd anniversary of the battle was celebrated with an interesting and informative address from our Patron - Brigadier Ted Acutt, RL
The 102nd anniversary of the battle was celebrated with an interesting and informative address from our Patron - Brigadier Ted Acutt, RL
Patron, Brig Ted Acutt making a point during his presentation. Giving their undivided attention from L to R are:
Jim De Francesco, John Kinton, Stan Rydell, Rocky Gerzina, Rod Jones, Graham Wright and Craig Burn.
Jim De Francesco, John Kinton, Stan Rydell, Rocky Gerzina, Rod Jones, Graham Wright and Craig Burn.
President Peter Branagan presented the Patron with the traditional RAACA tie and the book ‘To The Greenfields Beyond.’
The following members and guests enjoyed the 2019 Cambrai Dinner……..
Ted Acutt Will Anderson Bill Anderson Ray Babarikas John Blackwell Peter Branagan, OAM Elizabeth Branagan Bob Burke John Burke Andy Clark Peter Coutts, CSM Ray Tuskin Rita Tuskin Alan Spenceley Peter Swinfield Sharron Hey Graham Wright Graeme Perkins Pat O’Hanlon Craig Burn Anita Rynne Gavan Vigar David Vigar John Hopkins John Kinton Stan Rydell Allen Tanner Carolyn Tanner Trevor Watts Iain Reynolds Ian Smith Colin Straughen Jim DeFranceso Rocky Gerzina Bryce Phillips, AO Maggie McGeever Tyrell McGeever
David Finlayson Gordon Hastie Bob Neate Angus MacEwan Kevin Heyward Karl Liffman Nick Collett
Peter Farrugia Rod Westgarth David White Niall Waring Alan Sedgwick Mary Hornsby Ricky Farrell Rod Jones
Fred Coucher Terry Cuthbert
Ted Acutt Will Anderson Bill Anderson Ray Babarikas John Blackwell Peter Branagan, OAM Elizabeth Branagan Bob Burke John Burke Andy Clark Peter Coutts, CSM Ray Tuskin Rita Tuskin Alan Spenceley Peter Swinfield Sharron Hey Graham Wright Graeme Perkins Pat O’Hanlon Craig Burn Anita Rynne Gavan Vigar David Vigar John Hopkins John Kinton Stan Rydell Allen Tanner Carolyn Tanner Trevor Watts Iain Reynolds Ian Smith Colin Straughen Jim DeFranceso Rocky Gerzina Bryce Phillips, AO Maggie McGeever Tyrell McGeever
David Finlayson Gordon Hastie Bob Neate Angus MacEwan Kevin Heyward Karl Liffman Nick Collett
Peter Farrugia Rod Westgarth David White Niall Waring Alan Sedgwick Mary Hornsby Ricky Farrell Rod Jones
Fred Coucher Terry Cuthbert
Last year in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice;
Federal Labour member for Holt, the Hon. Anthony Byrne, commissioned a number of local artists to produce WW1 themed paintings. One of these – ‘Cambrai in Ruins’ caught the eye of new member Niall Waring and through the auspices of Treasurer Andy Clark we agreed that it should hang at the Home of Armour. Pictured right, Niall Waring presented the painting to the RAAC Officers Mess and was accepted by Mess Life Member Peter Branagan. |
Cambrai Dinner 2018
The formal highlight of our social calendar – the annual commemoration of the Battle of Cambrai was celebrated again at the School of Armour Officers/Sergeants Mess on Saturday 17 November. Keldie Hall was the venue as usual and witnessed 58 members and guests in attendance. The 1st Armoured Regiment Reunion and Cambrai Parade in Adelaide robbed us of a number of our regulars. Conversely we broke new ground this year with the invitation extended to the partners of our members. I believe this positive move will have a significant effect on attendances moving forward.
The 101st anniversary of the battle was celebrated with a repeat performance from the CO/CI of the School of Armour - Lieutenant Colonel Josh Gillman. He very graciously accepted a late request to stand in for our Patron Brigadier Ted Acutt, who recently enjoyed knee replacement surgery.
The 101st anniversary of the battle was celebrated with a repeat performance from the CO/CI of the School of Armour - Lieutenant Colonel Josh Gillman. He very graciously accepted a late request to stand in for our Patron Brigadier Ted Acutt, who recently enjoyed knee replacement surgery.
The Cambrai Dinner raffle raised over $700.00 again this year which will be used to provide Christmas Hampers to a number of our veteran members. Many thanks to Lindsay Christensen who continues to donate his handcrafted gems; which ensures that the raffle continues to be an unqualified success.
The Cambrai Dinner raffle raised over $700.00 again this year which will be used to provide Christmas Hampers to a number of our veteran members. Many thanks to Lindsay Christensen who continues to donate his handcrafted gems; which ensures that the raffle continues to be an unqualified success.
Captain Will Anderson (Retd) was pleasantly surprised with a presentation by David Finlayson (right) of a large mounted 2nd Cavalry Regiment hat badge donated by Lindsay Christensen (left). Will Anderson was severely injured in an ASLAV accident more than 20 years ago and was blinded as a result. Charles ‘Pee Wee’ Walsh (far left) was a
very welcome return guest with his wife Alleyne and grandson Casey McGovern.