Ernie Redman, OAM, suffered a heart attack two days prior to leaving Australia for the 2009 ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass
Yesterday, the National President of the Vietnam Swans, Phil Johns, was informed that ex POW, Ernie Redman had died on Wednesday 29 April. Below is the email he sent to those who went on last weekend’s trip to Thailand.
Fellow Swans ANZAC-ers
On ANZAC Day, a guy came up to me (Grant Harris) and gave me a one page story about Ernie Redman OAM. Ernie was the 4th ex POW – the one who wasn’t present at the ground where our footy match was held last Saturday.
Two days prior to the 90 year old setting off for ANZAC Day in Thailand, he suffered a heart attack. Yesterday (Wednesday 29 April) afternoon, Ernie died.
Last Saturday, we attended the Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass – a place that “Weary” Dunlop had predicted would assume “a significance equal to that of Gallipoli”. En route, as a tribute to his father and those who were there with him on the line, Patrick Stringer shared his knowledge, insights and reflections. We, the Vietnam Swans, then played a footy match, on ANZAC Day, in front of three of the four ex POWs.
Phew!
As time continues to pass, I suspect that the significance of ANZAC Day 2009 will become even greater for each of us.
Footnote: Yesterday, The Age reported that Alex Lees, the Briton who inspired The Great Escape dies at 97. Alex Lees was a prisoner at the infamous German Stalag Luft III camp in March 1944 when scores of Allied servicemen escaped through tunnels they had dug by hand.
