Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On Friday 21st April 2023, at 11.30am, Jack Braidie & his extended family will once again assemble in the gardens of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, along with descendants of Jack’s old Army Unit, Division 3 Signals; gathering at the first pine tree below the Shrine’s iconic front steps, where a commemorative plaque has been laid to honour their Service and sacrifice.
Having turned 100 on January 6, 2023, Jack Braidie is the last surviving member of his Unit of over 300+ Servicemen. Understandably, Jack now feels it’s time to make this year’s Anzac pilgrimage to Melbourne his very last trip for the Anzac Day March and associated Commemorations (a trip he still makes solo from Mildura by bus & train to Bendigo followed by a lift to Melbourne with family).
So Jack is determined to make the most of this year’s events. He is looking forward to speaking from the heart in commemoration of his Unit at what he fondly calls ‘The Tree Ceremony’ at the Shrine. During the ceremony moving speeches and touching dedications will be underscored by the poignant parade of a couple of uniformed soldiers, while a lone bugler will play the deeply profound ‘Last Post’. Attendees will undertake a solemn little procession, pausing to toss a poppy into the cauldron placed beside the Unit’s plaque of remembrance.
And even though it’s still school holidays, the Grade 6 leadership team of students from Greenhills Primary School, Greensborough, (who are sponsored by Jack’s Unit), will come along in uniform to pay their respects; delivering specially written dedications and sharing delicious homemade Anzac cookies!
Jack has always been committed to sharing his story, and those of his Unit, for the benefit of the next generations; helping them understand and appreciate the value of self sacrifice and service to others. His lasting legacy is the impact he has made on all who have had the pleasure to make his acquaintance. His natural warmth and good humour have always shone through, but it is the charm of his ’Gnome-like‘ persona which is most endearing!! He in turn is heartened by the exuberance and optimism of young people and hopes they will persist in overcoming the challenges of the future, just as he has witnessed countless triumphs of the past...
Jack’s final participation in this year’s annual ceremony will mark the end of an era.



Please find below some of the relevant material pertaining to Jack Braidie’s WW2 Service and please see the separate entry for details of his brother Vic Braidie who served in Borneo - which is important because the NMBVAA, National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia, have selected Jack for the great honour of taking part in the Anzac Day Motorcade at the MCG footy.

When Jack was informed by Owen Marshall of NMBVAA that he was selected, he was beautifully overwhelmed! (Just as you’d expect from this humble and unassuming man.) He said ”that kind of honour should really be reserved for War Heroes”! But he has since been reliably informed, that in the eyes of fellow Australians, he & his mates were all selfless heroes by definition of their sacrifice in Service.
This means Jack will of course be proud to be a representative for all Service Personnel, so as to give the MCG crowd a chance to pay homage.
In particular though, Jack will be representing those who have gone before... such as his late brother Vic Braidie, and also, his entire Army Unit.
As the last remaining member of Div 3 Signals, Jack is proud to represent them and feels it’s an honour to take this opportunity to do one last duty for his Unit...



John Leslie Braidie - VX105652

100 year old John ‘Jack’ Braidie, from Merbein, joined the Army ‘in the field’ in country Victoria, December 1941, with Infantry Training at Bonegilla, before being transferred to Seymour for 3rd Division Signals, owing to his Morse Code skills learnt working at the Post Office since age 13. After further training in the tropics of Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, February ‘43 Jack was sent to Port Moresby and on to Wau, New Guinea, where he spent 5 months in the ‘Wau to Salamaua Campaign’.
Vital communications had to be maintained around the clock, under all conditions, and no matter how difficult. Linesmen like Jack struggled through rough country, clearing paths through the undergrowth, while laying out wire from heavy spools. Whenever a line was cut or broken, a team of signallers had to repair the break, always mindful of being ambushed.
Jack’s diminutive frame helped him scale trees better than most but even 80 years on he still recalls the difficulty of manoeuvring those heavy cables!
Jack’s unit later moved to Lae for 7 months before he returned to Australia on leave. He then served in Bougainville for 15 months, from September ‘44, with a further 3 months guarding Japanese POWs in Rabaul, finally being Discharged May 16, 1946.

Jack Braidie says his Unit was very proud that after the war, Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Savige wrote that it was "with affectionate pride I remember the great work of 3 Div. Sigs from Wau to Salamaua, and along the Markham Valley in New Guinea, which was continued in Bougainville. You provided a service always greater than a Commander had a right to expect."


https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U55721