Victory of the Pacific ceremony returns to Albany as region takes one of its last opportunities to honour living WWII veterans

In what could be one of Albany’s last chances to honour its living World War II veterans, the city’s RSL sub-branch will host its first Victory in the Pacific ceremony in years. August 15 will mark the 75th anniversary of Japan’s unconditional surrender to Allied forces in 1945. Albany RSL president Laurie Fraser said the end of the conflict in the Pacific theatre was a significant moment in Australian history. “When you consider WWII, it was the first time Australia had actually been bombed ... it was a wake-up call for us,” he said. Air-bombing raids were launched by the Japanese in 1942 and 1943. Darwin was extensively targeted by Japanese bombers in the raids, which made it as far south as Exmouth Gulf. With all of the region’s WWII veterans in their 90s, Mr Fraser fears this could be one of the last opportunities the city gets to honour those who supported Australia’s war effort. Among Albany’s last remaining WWII veterans is 99-year-old Evan Hobley. The Katanning-born veteran joined the Royal Australian Air Force aged 19. As a wireless operator-air gunner, Mr Hobley fought the Nazi war machine and Italian fascists over the skies of North Africa and and Europe. Mavis Bennetts served Australia during WWII as a telephonist for 41/2 years in Cunderdin — which was home to an important RAAF training aerodrome. She recalled the horror of reading the names of young airmen she had met at the base among the West Australians killed in action. Her late husband William had a close call with Japanese bombers in the Northern Territory. Stationed at an RAAF facility outside of Darwin, a Japanese flare failed to ignite after landing in the middle of an airstrip in 1943. Flares were dropped to mark bombing targets. “It wasn’t a very good feeling when they started bombing our own country,” Ms Bennetts said. The VP Day 75th anniversary service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, August 16, at Albany War Memorial on York Street. It will be combined with the traditional Vietnam Veterans’ Day service, normally held on August 18. The service will include the reading of names from the war memorial of Albany residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. The RSL sub-branch wants to speak with anyone who served in WWII or their families so that due recognition can be given at the service. Albany RSL services co-ordinator Michael Tugwell has extended the invitation throughout the Great Southern region. Contact Mr Tugwell on 0421 647 301 or metco03@outlook.com.