Broken Hill RSL Sub Branch Inc.

18/08/2026

From RSL NSW

The Battle of Long Tan - 60th Anniversary

On 18 August 1966, the Battle of Long Tan was fought near Nui Dat in South Vietnam in 1966. The battle remains Australia’s most costly single engagement of the Vietnam War, in which 18 Australians lost their lives.

The anniversary of the battle marks Vietnam Veterans’ Day, when all Australians who served in Vietnam are honoured for the sacrifices they made.

Lest we forget 🌺

📸 Australian War Memorial

13/08/2026

From RSLA page
On this day in 1941, the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) was formed, opening new opportunities for women to serve their country during the Second World War.

More than 24,000 women would enlist in the AWAS, serving as drivers, signallers, cipher clerks, cooks, typists, provosts and in many other vital roles. These women were the first to serve in the Australian Defence Forces outside of the medical/nursing field.

Their service challenged traditional ideas about women’s roles in the military and helped pave the way for generations of Australian servicewomen who followed.

Today, we remember the dedication, courage and contribution of the women of the AWAS.

Lest we forget.

📸 Australian War Memorial; State Library of Victoria

11/08/2026

*Worldviews and ways of life in Australia*

ANU researchers are exploring how perceptions and ways of thinking (i.e. worldviews) relate to experiences and ways of living (i.e. participation and inclusion) in Australia.
They are seeking respondents for their online anonymous 15-20 min survey from any and all adult Australian citizens and permanent residents living in Australia.
Please make sure you are represented in this meaningful research by completing this fascinating survey and also forwarding it to any others who may be interested. There are $100 vouchers to be won if you complete it!
Access the survey here (https://anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Ao5q9gu3ysrbVQ) in English or Tiếng Việt or ਪੰਜਾਬੀ or 简体中文 or 繁體中文 or العربية.
Any questions can be emailed to the researchers ([email protected]). Thanks so much!

10/08/2026

06/08/2026

Today marks the 111th anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine.

The Lone Pine attack was launched in the late afternoon of 6 August 1915 by the 1st Brigade, AIF. A feint designed to draw Turkish reinforcements away from major operations elsewhere, it pitched Australian forces against formidable entrenched Turkish positions, sections of which were securely roofed over with pine logs.

The main Turkish trench was taken within 20 minutes of the initial charge, but it was the prelude to four days of vicious hand-to-hand fighting, resulting in more than 2,000 Australian casualties. Turkish losses were estimated at 7,000.

The battle was a success, although it ultimately failed to draw enemy reinforcements away from the major operations elsewhere.

The service and sacrifice of these brave individuals will not be forgotten.

Lest We Forget🌺

📸 Defence Images

06/08/2026

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of the Cowra Breakout – the largest prisoner of war breakout in Australia's history, and the largest of the Second World War.

On 5 August 1944, around 545 Japanese prisoners of war launched a mass escape from the POW camp at Cowra, New South Wales. An unauthorised bugle call signalled the attack at 2am, and prisoners charged the fences armed with improvised weapons.

Over the following nine days, 334 escapees were recaptured. In total, 234 Japanese prisoners were killed or took their own lives, while a further 108 were wounded.

Three Australian soldiers – Privates Benjamin Gower Hardy GC, Ralph Jones GC and Charles Henry Shepherd – were killed during the breakout. Lieutenant Harry Doncaster was killed later that day while leading the search for escaped prisoners.

Hardy and Jones were posthumously awarded the George Cross for their extraordinary bravery in defending the Vickers machine gun despite being overwhelmed by the attacking prisoners.

The camp remained in operation until 1947, when the remaining prisoners and internees were repatriated.

Lest we forget.

📸 The compounds of the Prisoner of War Camp at Cowra; Burial of Australian soldiers killed during breakout of Japanese prisoners (AWM).

27/07/2026

Today we commemorate Korean Veterans Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on 27 July 1953, which brought an end to three years of fighting on the Korean Peninsula.

We remember the courage and sacrifice of the almost 18,000 Australians who served during the Korean War, including the more than 340 who lost their lives. We also recognise the service of all Korean War veterans and their families.

Lest we forget.

You can read stories of NSW veterans service from the Korean war on this link: https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/nsw-stories?f%5B0%5D=stories_theme%3AKorean%20War%20Stories

26/07/2026

Today we commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Samichon River.

Fought over three brutal days in July 1953, this battle marked the final engagement of the Korean War before the armistice was signed.

On the evening of 24 July 1953, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army made a last-ditch attempt to wrestle strategically important territory from United Nations forces before the Armistice was signed.

Just before 9 pm, Chinese artillery opened fire on the Australian and American positions, followed by a ground assault. These attacks petered out in the early hours of 25 July, but the Chinese artillery kept up a constant fire on the Australian and American trenches throughout the day.

At 9pm on 25 July, the shelling intensified and by 11 pm over 30 shells per minute were being fired. At 11:15pm, the last Chinese offensive of the war began.

The Australians and Americans battled with the Chinese forces until 3am on 26 July when the Chinese senior command called off their offensive.

The Armistice was signed the following day at 10am.

The battle came at a cost of five Australians killed and 24 wounded. The American Marines suffered 43 men killed and 316 wounded.

Lest we forget.

Read the stories of veterans who served in the Korean War: https://bit.ly/Korean-War-Veteran-Stories

📷: Troops of 2 RAR move from The Hook to the Demilitarised Zone, 72 hours after the cease fire, Korea, 1953. AWM 157687.

15/07/2026

Returned and Services League Broken Hill will be holding a General Meeting on 26 July 2026.

Meeting will start at 1100am

Maximum attendance is encouraged

12/07/2026

The General meeting that was scheduled for today @ 1100 am has to rescheduled due to lack of attendees. The new dates will again be populated via email, Facebook and tv classifieds two weeks prior to the GM date.

Special thank you to
those who sent apologies and attended.

Thank you for the work of the committee as well.

Reg
JB GARRARD