GRAVE SITE MEMORIAL ‘RAT OF TOBRUK’Narooma NSW
Donation protected
As an introduction, I am 312854 Warrant Officer Class1 Ian Noormets (Retd) with service in Vietnam in 1970 to 1971 with No 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight. I have been a member of the Narooma RSL and advisor on DVA Welfare matters for a period of years. In this capacity, I have had the privilege to know and support a WWII veteran and ‘Rat of Tobruk’ VX37443 9th DIV Sig Allan Ward Forster who sadly passed away in Narooma aged 100 years on 15 March 2020.
Allan Forster was born in Richmond, Victoria, Australia on 13 Dec 1919 and enlisted at the recruiting station in Royal Park, Melbourne in July 1940. He departed for the Middle East with the 9th DIV on 31st Dec 1940 and fought at Tobruk and Alamein before returning with the 9th Div to New Guinea and the Lae landing. So, we have a humble and exceptional individual who the community considers to be one of Australia’s national treasures as a member of the heroic generation of WWII. Not only did he face danger from fighting on the other side of the world again the Germans and Italian armies , he and many other young men hurriedly returned to Australia and back up again the Japanese in the Pacific Islands.
Well, I didn’t think this Veteran’s small estate should pay for his own memorial and so, I wrote to the Chief of Australian Defence Forces, the Secretary of Department of Veteran’s Affairs, our local Member of NSW Parliament and reviewed RSL policies looking for finance or grants to fund a memorial for him. All responded to my requests and were sympathetic and supported my Crusade, but no funds could be legally granted to this project.
Now I am putting it to you the people of Australia and I am requesting that you join my campaign and donate a small amount to this cause. When you do donate, don’t forget to leave your name. All excess funds will be distributed to Returned Services League Australia- DefenceCare.
Allan Forster was born in Richmond, Victoria, Australia on 13 Dec 1919 and enlisted at the recruiting station in Royal Park, Melbourne in July 1940. He departed for the Middle East with the 9th DIV on 31st Dec 1940 and fought at Tobruk and Alamein before returning with the 9th Div to New Guinea and the Lae landing. So, we have a humble and exceptional individual who the community considers to be one of Australia’s national treasures as a member of the heroic generation of WWII. Not only did he face danger from fighting on the other side of the world again the Germans and Italian armies , he and many other young men hurriedly returned to Australia and back up again the Japanese in the Pacific Islands.
Well, I didn’t think this Veteran’s small estate should pay for his own memorial and so, I wrote to the Chief of Australian Defence Forces, the Secretary of Department of Veteran’s Affairs, our local Member of NSW Parliament and reviewed RSL policies looking for finance or grants to fund a memorial for him. All responded to my requests and were sympathetic and supported my Crusade, but no funds could be legally granted to this project.
Now I am putting it to you the people of Australia and I am requesting that you join my campaign and donate a small amount to this cause. When you do donate, don’t forget to leave your name. All excess funds will be distributed to Returned Services League Australia- DefenceCare.
Organizer
Ian Noormets-Booth
Organizer
