Paying Tribute To Fallen Servicemen In Yokohama
1 October 2009
Chaplain (CHAP) Christine Senini led Commanding Officers CMDR Kevin Turner (HMAS Ballarat) and CMDR Tony Rayner (HMAS Success) together with crew members from both ships through a moving tribute to Australia's war dead at El-Renpo-Gun-Bochi, the British Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Yokohama, Japan.
The 13 hectare cemetery is situated 30 kilometers from Tokyo and sits at the top of a hill ringed by suburban Yokohama. The only Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Japan, it is protected from the hustle and bustle of the outside world by a thick wall of lush shrubs and towering Japanese pines which block out the noise and creates a quiet oasis dedicated to the fallen.
Within the traditional Japanese garden setting of the cemetery stand four white gums which overlook the 277 known and three unknown service men and women who rest in the Australian section of the WWII Plot. It was under these trees, with a faint whiff of eucalyptus in the air that the service to commemorate the fallen Australians resting in the cemetery was held by the Northern Trident (NT09) personnel.
Gathered before the Cross of Sacrifice and in front of eight rows of headstones CHAP Senini addressed the members of ship's company, "We pay tribute to their honour, courage and loyalty. Today we remind ourselves of what it may take to serve our country. We remember our heritage and that it is now our turn to stand fast."
"In honouring our dead we honour commitment, courage and duty. We should all draw comfort from the fact that Australians are still prepared to make that sacrifice, and despite the cost and despite the tempo of 21st century life, Australians will travel around the world to visit and take the time to remember" she said.
The service was concluded by the laying of a wreath by both Commanding Officers before CPO Cath Harvey read the Naval Ode and the last post broke the silence of the quiet cemetery.
The conclusion of the service did not however conclude the day's commemorations. The NT09 group then moved a short distance to the Post War Plot containing graves of 57 Australian service personnel who passed away during their service as part of the post WWII Occupation Forces, were killed during the Korean War or died more recently while serving in Japan.
In this section of the cemetery lies Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2), Rayene (Ray) Stewart Simpson who was awarded a Victoria Cross for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. As the Officers and Sailors gathered around his headstone, Ballarat's Commanding Officer described the deeds which lead to the award, "It was whilst serving in the Kontum Province that Simpson undertook the feats of heroism and bravery which saw him receive the Victoria Cross."
"On 6 May 1966 as his company moved forward, a platoon commander was seriously wounded and the assault began to falter. Simpson carried the wounded man to safety under heavy fire before individually engaging the enemy with grenades and coordinating the withdrawal of Australian troops."
"Again on 11 May, Simpson stood fast in the face of the enemy as he moved through withering machine gun fire to cover the evacuation of wounded casualties which included his battalion commander. Simpson placed himself between the wounded and the enemy and covered the evacuation to the helicopter pad. It was these feats which lead to the award of the Victoria Cross by the Queen in 1970." Commander Turner concluded.
The laying of the wreath on the headstone of WO2 Simpson completed the formal commemorations and released the ships company to their own quiet reflection as they walked between the headstones, reading the inscriptions and individually reflecting upon the service of those who had come before them and whose dedication and sacrifice has not been forgotten.
