Stories of Kerrin and Private Douglas Grant
Kerrin, Contemporary Veteran
Kerrin was 20 when she joined the Navy after working on a vineyard in Tasmania. The idea of being able to travel the world was a strong draw card. She had a cousin in the Army and one in the Airforce and as a result heard about the many adventures to be enjoyed. It sounded like an interesting career choice, where no two days would be the same.
After serving for nine years, Kerrin suddenly discharged in 2015 and moved from Cairns to Sydney. She reached out to Soldier On for help by firstly seeing a psychologist and then started attending social activities, where she discovered her love for sailing.
This passion then led to an amazing opportunity to become part of a crew of veterans to participate in the 2017 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race as part of the lead up to the Sydney Invictus Games 2018. After moving state again in 2018, She reached out for psychological support and was diagnosed with PTSD.
ANZAC Day for Kerrin is a day of quiet reflection, a chance to honour the sacrifices and actions of the first ANZACs, those who headed off to a conflict they knew very little about, but despite that fought for Australia showing endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship. Now known as the ANZAC Spirit, many of those qualities are still shown in our current and former ADF members.
“Soldier On and other similar organisations help with our transition in a variety of ways, whether it be helping you put your career into civilian speak to write resumes, move on to other employment or more importantly, it gives you an opportunity to meet up in a relaxed environment during social activities with people who understand what you have been through and continue to go through,” Kerrin added.
Private Douglas Grant, 13th Battalion
Private Douglas Grant, 13th Battalion, was born into a traditional Aboriginal community in the Bullenden Kerr Ranges, Northern Queensland, in the early 1880s. In 1887 his parents and much of his Aboriginal community were believed to have been killed by Native Police during frontier violence in Queensland. Grant was adopted by a white family. He enlisted in 1916 and with the intervention of his foster father, was accepted for active service overseas. He was wounded and captured by the Germans at Bullecourt in 1917 and remained a prisoner for the duration of the war.
After his capture, Douglas spent two months in France with the other Bullecourt prisoners, who were used as forced labourers for the German Army. Owing to his dark complexion, Douglas ended up at the German camp for Muslim prisoners at Zossen in the German state of Brandenburg, where he supervised the distribution of comforts to Indian prisoners as a member of the British Help Committee.
Douglas’ role in distributing comforts was an extremely important one. Not only did the parcels lift the men’s spirits with much-needed essentials, but the system also provided the opportunity to accurately record who had been taken prisoner and where they were held. This vital information could make a huge difference for families at home in Australia who were waiting for news of their “missing”.
A highly educated man, Douglas returned to a society that was ruled by the White Australia Policy, and he struggled to find work during the Depression. He was hospitalised with severe depression at least once, and never found steady work or a wife or family. He did not receive benefits such as the Soldier Settler Scheme, and was subjected to racial discrimination because of his heritage. He struggled with alcoholism but continued to be an active member of various soldiers’ associations, and was politically active in arguing for rights for Indigenous men and for returned soldiers. He died at the war veteran’s home in La Perouse in 1951.
Prepared by Drs Aaron Pegram, Meleah Hampton and Lachlan Grant,
Military History Section, Australian War Memorial, 28 March 2019.
Stories of Rebecca and Private Martin O’Meara, VC
Rebecca, Contemporary Veteran
Rebecca joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2000 at age 20. At the time of joining, she recalls there being a lot of TV ads about joining the Navy, so thought she'd “give it a go”. Rebecca served for 13 years, during which she heard about Soldier On while helping with a fundraising effort.
While living at HMAS Cerberus Rebecca received an email saying that a Soldier On representative was going to be on base. Eventually, she got the nerve up to book an appointment. From there Soldier On started to get her involved in some of the events that were run.
“Soldier On is actually responsible for getting me out of the house, find a little confidence and talk to new people,” she said.
After attending a major event, Melbourne was in COVID lockdown for a long, long time. During the first year of lockdowns Soldier On in Melbourne held weekly online catch ups. “I was in a bad place during this time but really enjoyed the weekly catch ups. It also helped me form a bond with Soldier On, which I think really helped with me feel comfortable going to programs after the lockdowns”.
To begin with Rebecca found it awkward to go to the programs and meet up with people, but not anymore. She now feels so comfortable going to a variety of programs and talking to other vets, saying, “Honestly, I don't want to think about how things could have gone for me if Soldier On didn't exist”.
Rebecca finds ANZAC Day a tough day, reflecting on those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and thanks them in her own way.
Private Martin O’Meara VC, 16th Battalion
One officer described O’Meara as “the most fearless and gallant soldier I have ever seen”. He was wounded on three separate occasions during his time in France, and upon returning to Australia, was hospitalised with influenza. While in quarantine, O’Meara suffered a catastrophic mental collapse owing to his war experiences.
He was placed into care at Claremont Mental Hospital in Perth but was plagued by voices and hallucinations until his death in December 1935.
Source: Australian War Memorial
Stories of Paul and Private Horace Joseph Buckley
Paul, Contemporary Veteran
Paul was 24 years old when he joined the Army. He always felt a duty to serve our great country and like many soldiers before, the promise of adventure and lifelong mates was what he wanted.
Soldier On has helped him reintegrate into the community socially through activities and meeting other veterans and their families. He has participated in many of Soldier On’s Social Connections Programs including: go-karting; kayaking; cooking classes; iFly; and many more, saying that “these have been great fun and a great opportunity to meet new people”.
This ANZAC Day, Paul will be marching for Fallen friends and those who never came back. For Paul, the services provided by Soldier On are vital to the Australian community, not just for veterans who need to be reintegrated into our society, but for what a veteran can bring when returning to the community. “Soldier On opens up this opportunity,” he added.
Private Horace Joseph Buckley, 32nd Battalion
Born in Kyneton, Victoria, Joseph enlisted in late 1915. Almost immediately he went absent without leave, and a warrant for his arrest had him returned to camp. He eventually embarked for active service in 1917, but continued to struggle with military discipline, with his service record detailing multiple instances of insubordination, drunkenness and absence without leave. While awaiting repatriation to Australia after the war, Buckley was charged with begging on the streets of London in 1919.
On his return to Australia, he continued to struggle with alcohol, leading to repeated spells at the Lara Inebriate Retreat near Geelong. He died in Sydney in 1940.
Prepared by Drs Aaron Pegram, Meleah Hampton and Lachlan Grant, Military History Section, Australian War Memorial, 28 March 2019.
Stories of Andi and Major General Harold ‘Pompey’ Elliott
