2nd31st battalion

29/05/2026

Today (Friday) we had to go to Redcliffe. While Elizabeth was busy I went for a walk and noticed a large number of memorials to Australian involvement in various wars. The most recent (and colourful) is a memorial to Australian soldiers in Vietnam. There is a very large memorial to all of Australia's involvement in wars going back to our involvement in wars against the Maoris in New Zealand!! I had no idea we were ever involved!!

If you live in south-east Queensland it is well worth the trip.

12/05/2026

Just put a new post on 2/31st blog:

The following article was published in Teh-Kallim, Vol 6, No 8, June, 1990 From Vic Kroemer 2/31st Battalion [Vic said that he wrote this poem at Mersa Matruh. All the Mortar Platoon and all of A C…

04/05/2026

Here is a message from Tony Wadeson about the recent Anzac Day march:

Members, please find the attached Photo of our 31st Bn Assoc, - Anzac Day Brisbane City Parade - Marching Group. You will note we only marched with two Banners, this year, the 31st Bn Assoc. carried by Tom Ward and Oliver Koehlitz, - St. Peters College Students. And the 31/51st Bn Banner Carried by Therese and Michele Mayhew, Daughter & Granddaughter of WWII -31/51st Bn Veteran Noel Pilcher from Bowen, Nth Q'ld. Unfortunately we were unable to get any carriers from the 2/31st Bn descendants to carry their Banner this year. This was most disappointing, not to have the Banner of one of Australia's most highly recognised Battalions of WWII represented.
This Year we had the honour of three Members of the Hastie Family, - Father, MAJ Doug Hastie (Retd) - Son MAJ Marc Hastie (Retd) & youngest son MAJ Brook Hastie leading our Group. The Hastie Family this year, attained 100 years Military Service to Australia, and as Brook is still serving, it isn't finished yet. All Members of the 31st Bn Association, offer our Congratulations, and Appreciation to the Hastie Family for this achievement.
Other Marchers were:-
Chris Pyke, - Keith Watts, - Tom Hess, - Tony Wadeson, and Mounted in Jeeps behind us were Bill Mills & Vincent Koch.
We managed to retire to the Grand Central Hotel for Bangers & Mash & a cold drink after the March.
Sincere Thanks go to the Banner Carriers and to our Marching Group. Well done all.
Our next major project for year is the 110th Anniversary Commemoration Service of the Battle of Fromelles on Sunday - 19th July at Ipswich RSL - Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Tony Wadeson

04/05/2026

Here is a new post on the 2/31st blog:

The following intriguing article is from Teh-Kallim, Vol 6, No 8, June 1990, page 2. Although it has no direct connection with the 2/31st Battalion, it talks about a subject that probably very few …

30/04/2026

Two more photos from the Anzac Day service at the 2/31st Memorial. One shows the back of Tricia who took the service. The other shows Tricia with her niece Rochelle who organised the service and her granddaughter Lillie who played the Last Post and Reveille.

26/04/2026

Here's an assortment of photos of the Anzac Day ceremony at the 2/31st Memorial at Southbank, Brisbane.

We are very grateful to those who brought and erected shadecloths which were very valuable this year not to protect from the sun but from the rain. Praise the Lord the rain was only slight until the ceremony finished and then it poured down.

20/04/2026

If you know anyone with connections to the 2/25th Battalion the message below is for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greetings all,

For those of you who are descendants or relatives of 2/25th Bn diggers, we would love you to join us in the Anzac Day Parade in Brisbane this year behind the battalion banner. For decades, our fathers marched behind the old banner (see attached photo of diggers with the banner). We now have a new banner thanks to the efforts of Cecily & Doug Wilson.

In recent years, there have been increasing numbers of descendants of various units marching behind the banners of their father’s and grandfather’s battalions.

We would love to see as many as possible attend and march with us. For those interested, details are: -

We will be Group 9 - descendants of veterans of all conflicts
We will start meeting at the Queens Gardens (corner of Elizabeth & George Streets) from around 10:15am – look for the 2/25th Bn banner.
Step off time to start marching, will be around 11.15am.


Hoping to see you there.

Regards, John


John Tannock

Buckamara Ck Orchards

3384 Esk Hampton Rd

Ravensbourne Qld 4352

Mob: 0419 736 185

Email: [email protected]

20/04/2026

Reminder that our ANZAC day service will be on this Saturday, 9am.

The service will be led by Patrica Carney (nee Blake) and Rochelle Brown (nee Blake) the daughter and granddaughter of Herbert Blake, who was part of the 2/31st Battalion. If you have ever attended a service led by Lindsey and Elizabeth Timms, who have run this on behalf of our 2/31st since 1985, it would be great if you could come down and show your support for the newbies (only kind criticism is welcome please 🙂) , and also give thanks to Lindsey and Elizabeth who have led this service without fail, year after year.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

TOMORROW & THURSDAY (If no volunteers)
📢 Volunteers needed! 📢

We are looking for a few volunteers, over the age of 16, to carry the 2/31st banner for the march on Saturday. This will be held straight after our service and would be a wonderful opportunity for family and friends of the battalion to show their support. Please comment below if you are able to help out this year. See you Saturday!

06/04/2026

The latest post on 2/31st blog:

By Bob Phillips, 2/31st Battalion The following article appeared in Teh-Kallim, Vol 3, No 10; June 1976, Page 11. (This article was taken from the newspaper the Gladstone Observer.) I have not had …

25/03/2026

We received the following email from Tony Wadeson about requirements for the Anzac Day march in Brisbane city. If you have any questions please contact Tony who will be able to answer them - we hope!!
Elizabeth

31st Bn Assoc. Members, - 2nd/31st Bn, - 31/51st Bn Descendants, -31/51 Bn RQR members, - 42 Bn Assoc. - 51 Bn Assoc Members,

Family & Friends.
Please find attached Details of the "ORDER OF MARCH " for this years Brisbane ANZAC DAY March - Saturday 25th April .
The Navy will be Leading this years March - Then Army - & then Air Force.
We will be Involved in Area GROUP 5 Army Associations - Section F - Position 50. (Look for Our 3 Banners. - 31st Bn Banner - 2/31st Bn - 31/51 Bn Banners) - Only Serving or ex Service Members may march in this Group. Our FUP will be in GEORGE ST - between CHARLOTTE & MARY St's, - behind Sections A, E, & H -
NO LATER THAN 10.30 AM. -

Refer Attached "Anzac Day 2026 Order of March" - Pages 7 to 9
ATTENTION:- Marc Hastie:- Could you please contact your old 31st Bn, & 51st Bn Mates to invite them to march with us again.
All 31/42 Bn RQR members visiting Brisbane -please join us.
All 42 Bn & 51 Bn, Ex members are also invited to march with us.
41st Bn Assoc. Members, Brian Jarvis & Cleave (Lofty)Roffey are also welcome to march with us.
It is Our Intention to Also have our WW2 - 2/31st Bn & 31/51 Bn Banners, - return to form up in GROUP 9 - POSITION - 93 "Descendants of Veterans" (C) - WW11 1939-45 Any Descendants of all Generations may march in this Section. FUP - In Elizabeth St. Adjacent to Queens Gardens by 11.30AM - (REFER PAGE 15 attached) We would like as many Descendants as possible - especially the younger family members to March in "Group 9" this year. - Note:- the 2/25 Bn Assoc. (Sister Bn to the 2/31st Bn in WW2) will be Marching, & usually they have a large number. - 2/31st Bn will form up behind them, & then the 31/51Bn behind them.

BANNER CARRIERS:- I require two Banner Carriers for the 31st Bn Banner (Group 5 Section only). - Two Banner Carriers for the 2/31st Bn Banner Group 5 at 10.30. Then another Two Carriers for Group 9 at 11.30AM

I have the Two Banner Carriers (Noel Pilcher's Family Members) for the 31/51 Bn Banner (Group 5 at 10.30 AM) If However other 31/51 Bn "Descendants" wish to March they can march in Group 9 at 11.30 AM.

Perhaps the "Podosky" Family may wish to carry the Banner in Group 9 with other Members of 31/51 Bn Descendants.
Please Note, that I will have the 2/31st Bn Banner at the 2/31st Bn Monument - South Bank, - for your Service at at 9.30 AM. Regards, Tony Wadeson President 31st Bn Assoc. (Brisbane Branch) Mob:- 0427 337 177 Email:- [email protected]