In 2003 I retired having worked for 6 years in the Bank of New South Wales, 27 years in the Reserve Bank and the last 15 years as the Associate to 2 Supreme Court Judges and a Royal Commissioner. I had 36 years in the CMF and the Army Reserve, commencing as a private in National Service and retiring as a Lt Col (RAAMC) in 1994.

My interest in the Railway, started when I read a book called “Soldier Surgeon in Malaya” by Thomas Hamilton, CO 2/4 CCS and later SMO of A Force. Then in 1991, when visiting a friend who was the Defence Attaché in Bangkok , I walked through Hellfire Pass and was moved by the experience.

I subsequently became involved with two ex POWs who had been taking groups to the Railway for many years. These gentlemen were members of Dunlop Force who understandably were devoted to the “Dunlop” story. As a consequence, I too was inculcated with the same attitude. However, having personally interviewed Rowley Richards, Claude Anderson (Both A Force) and Vic Brand, Peter Hendry and Lloyd Cahill (all F Force), I realized that there were many Medical Officers who did as much and, possibly, more than Weary. In some cases the concentration on Weary is the cause of some resentment from some ex POWs who saw the wonderful work of other Medical Officers, Dental Officers, Medical Orderlies and Chaplains.

In WA we have created the Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association (Inc). This is an organisation that will ensure that with the passage of time the story will continue to be told. Volunteers take tours to Thailand for Anzac Day and for Remembrance Day. The tours, until recently, were centered around Hintock/Hellfire Pass and the Weary Dunlop story, hence the name “The Quiet Lion Tour”. These Anzac Day Tours have been organized for nearly 20 years. The Remembrance Day Tours are an initiative of the Defence Reserves Association and their first Tour in 2001 was the first organized group to hold a Remembrance Day Service in Hellfire Pass.

On our tours we are now acknowledging the other Medical Officers (Doctors) and, where possible, visiting other campsites of significance. We now include Songkurai and Takanun in the itinerary of our trips and we know quite a bit about these areas now.

In an arrangement with the Army Museum in Fremantle, I do a lecture/talk regularly. So far, the lectures have been well attended and will continue as long as the Museum sees value in the arrangement. I travel extensively in pursuit of knowledge about the railway.