Vickii Byram
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KNOWN for their larrikin spirit the diggers of the two World Wars sacrificed much but retained their sense of humour.
Jack Mansfield is a perfect example.
When asked his age he said: “That depends.”
The former RAAF Leading Aircraftman (LAC) is five months away from his 89th birthday.
To Jack, Anzac Day “means a lot”.
“It’s hard to put in words”, he says.
Unfortunately, his debilitating illness makes it hard for him to say much at all, as we visit him on the eve of Anzac Day, 2014.
“I lost a few friends [in World War II] and I will always remember them.”
“We followed our forefathers [in serving our country] ... not many know how good they [World War I diggers] were.
“It was tough, but we took the good with the bad.”
He is the only surviving trustee of the original land grant given to the Laurieton RSL Sub-branch for its premises.
Jack and the founding members of the sub-branch worked to raise money to fund the erection of a transplanted Pappinbarra church on the site of the current Laurieton United Services Club.
“These walls could tell some stories,” said current president of the sub-branch Mike McClelland.
Jack was called to serve in the RAAF on the May 25, 1944. He did his basic training in Cootamundra, NSW; a combat course at Ascot Vale, VIC, operational training at Williamstown, NSW and was then sent to Adelaide River Aerodrome, Pelfied Strip, 4 RSU [Repair and Salvage Unit], Northern Territory.
As Jack tells it, he left his job as a baker and became eligible for call up, but was “a bit of a jockey” in those days, so he was precluded from the Army.
The RAAF signed him up and it seems his small stature made him a good iron substitute for fellow servicemen.
“They used to strap me into the luggage racks [on long train hauls] on top of their clothes,” he says.
Jack was sent to No.1 Fighter Wing, Darwin; 549 Spitfire M8 54 squadron, and was on notice to transfer to New Guinea but deterioration of the squadron’s aircraft meant the mission was cancelled. After the war, Jack transferred back to 4 RSU NT, and was later sent to RAAF Base Amberley, QLD until he was discharged on July 3, 1946. He has been married to his wife Araluen for 67 years and lived on the Mid-North Coast all his life, with the exception of a job stint in Newcastle and his time in the RAAF. The couple has a son John and twin granddaughters.
North Haven has been their home for going on 30 years with Jack taking up timber hauling after he left the RAAF, until he retired here.
“Anzac Day is getting bigger,” he says. “It was very big last year and Mike says it will be even bigger next year for the centenary.”
“There are a couple of little boys I’ve seen marching with their dads from when they were young and they are still doing it. I’ve never seen two little blokes so keen.”
Due to ill health Jack won’t be at the Anzac Day ceremony in person today but he will certainly be there in spirit.
“Jack has been a staunch member of the sub-branch throughout the years and we wish him well,” Mike says.