PHOTOS

SYDNEY ANZAC MARCH EARLY 2000s

JAMES GEORGE WATSON

RECEIVED ON NING

Hello Lynne,
I am new to this type of thing, so will start with an e-mail, as I have never created a blog before. First things first.
My name is Simone Wood and I have a twin sister – Nicole Dorward. We are grandaughters of James (Bluey) George Watson of the 2/3 Pioneers. He was also part of several other battalions as his brother kept calling him. James passed away last year, and there are only two member of this Battalion left in the Melbourne group. That is Stan Owler and Frank. We will be meeting the Sydney Pioneer members and families on Monday, are you part of this group? If so, will you be attending this meeing/gathering?
Nik and I went to Canberra War Memorial to find out more information about our Pa only two weeks ago, but they will be posting that information to us as they have it filed in Archieves. We had hoped to have this information prior to this gathering, SayLaVe?

If anyone knows anything of Bluey, do let us know and we will pass it on to Simone and her sister or post it on her Ning Page.

MEN OF THE 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION. LAST POST : Noel Eldershaw MacDougall

Hi
I have been trying to reach the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion Association but have been unable to find a contact.  My father-in law Noel Eldershaw MacDougall passed away on 7th July at the age of 92.  He fought bravely with the 2/3 Battalion after enlisting in Armidale with the Light Horse with Mr Peter Tindal, Mr Brian Hughes, Mr Mac McKenzie and Mr. Fitzgerald all of Grafton and was later transferred to Cowra.  These men remained closest friends all their lives.
Mr MacDougall lived at "Marengo Ebor", the property held by his family for over a century. He was a wonderful stockman and a gentleman – true legend in the area.  No one knew the Chalundi bush like he did. He loved his land, his cattle and his horses (both work horses and racehorses) but unfortunately had to live in the Dorrigo Community Health Centre for the last years of his life. He was well looked after there but he always yearned for his bush and his dogs. 
Mr MacDougall was married to Lesley Shannon (deceased) of Mackey and had three sons, Alister, Angus (deceased) and Graham and ten grandchildren.  Kirsty, Peta, Henry and Stuart (Graham’s children), Minnie, Tim, Sarah and Harry (Angus’s children) and Scott and Ryan (Alister’s children)
A funeral will be held at the Anglican Cathedral in Grafton at 10am Tuesday July 21st.
If you would like more information please contact me.
Regards
Robyn MacDougall

His funeral will be held at the Anglican cathedral in Grafton on 21st July at 10am. 

Hello Robyn, I shall try to find the phone numbers for the men who write the PIONEER Newsletter. I am sure they would like to know of your father-in-law’s passing. I knew Brian Hughes well when I was growing up and I am frequently in Ebor, Dorrigo and now live near Grafton. I would like to attend the funeral as a representative of My Dad and will do what I can to let the official Pioneers know. My condolences to you and the family. Yrs Lynne. P.S Thank you for the story. This is what my father was hoping we could gradually put together so that none of them is forgotten and so that their stories do not begin when the war began nor end when it ended. Yrs.

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

MARK GLEASE (grandson of A.K. BYRNE) is planning a trip to Egypt and would appreciate info on sites to visit and areas of interest to 2/3 Pioneers.