World War II veteran gets his own personal Anzac parade despite coronavirus restrictions

Updated

World War II veteran Henry 'Corky' Caldwell has not missed an Anzac Day parade in 75 years.

The decision to cancel gatherings around the country this year because of coronavirus restrictions shocked this 100-year-old digger from the New South Wales north coast, but his family and an online community rallied around him to make sure he didn't miss out.

"It's very important. I've been going to it ever since the war finished," Mr Caldwell said.

Suzanne Lofts, Mr Caldwell's daughter, explained how for her dad Anzac Day was about much more than a parade.

"He does get very emotional about Anzac Day, he often has a tear when he lays his wreath because it reminds him of all his mates who have passed," Ms Lofts said.

"All his granddaughters and grandsons come from Sydney, Newcastle, and Brisbane to celebrate with him.

"So, he was fairly gutted when Anzac Day wasn't going to happen this year."

Ms Lofts shared her father's disappointment in a Facebook post and was surprised at the reaction.

Thousands of people responded, thanking Mr Caldwell for his service to his country and asking if there was something they could do to still make the day special.

They sent cards and paintings and then Grafton's Phil Heesch, who owns a World War II jeep, heard about the post and came to the rescue.

"A mate of mine in Wollongong rang me and said that there was a very disappointed World War II digger in Grafton who wanted a ride in a jeep because Anzac Day was cancelled," Mr Heesch said.

"Turns out that it's the same guy — Corky — who I take every year in our parade in Grafton."

Mr Heesch offered to take Mr Caldwell on his own private, socially distanced parade through the streets of Grafton two weeks prior to Anzac Day, so the veteran could safely lay a wreath at the cenotaph.

For all involved, it became a journey down memory lane.

Soldier armed with a pocket camera

Like all Mr Caldwell's children, Ms Lofts grew up with a treasure trove of photographs of their dad's great adventure in the war.

"He talks a lot about his war years, never the serious side of it but the funny, exciting side of it," Ms Lofts said.

When he enlisted Mr Caldwell was 21 and an auto electrician by trade.

Before he shipped out, he armed himself with a then state-of-the-art Kodak Pocket Brownie camera.

He was assigned to a unit of engineers in an Ordnance workshop near Cairo in Egypt, behind the lines.

Here Mr Caldwell worked long days, repairing ambulances and tanks damaged in battle, but in his downtime he captured the exotic world around him on film.

There are portraits of the desert people, ancient tombs, and of course the pyramids.

"I've got dozens and dozens of photos of all the pyramids … I climbed up the first one, used to ride camels around them," Mr Caldwell said.

"It was a homing place for the troops, they used to all go out and see the Sphinx."

A serial volunteer

The photographs are part of a massive collection of memorabilia from a life well lived, and one dedicated to serving his community.

He was a volunteer firefighter for 35 years with the Grafton Rural Fire Brigade and then served a further 15 years setting up and managing another 14 Clarence Valley brigades.

He is a life member of the Grafton Show Society with a passion for dog shows.

He volunteered to coach the high school girl's hockey team even though he says he knew nothing about the game.

In 1956, he ran the Olympic torch through Grafton in the lead up to the Melbourne Games.

"It had real flames and there was a big westerly wind when I carried it up over the bridge, it nearly burnt me, but I was really proud that I was carrying it," Mr Caldwell said.

In 2008, Mr Caldwell was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community of the Clarence Valley region.

Advice for the battle against COVID-19

In his 100 years, Mr Caldwell has lived through tough times.

He was a child of the Great Depression and explains that during that time, and after the war, food was scarce.

"During the Depression we used to live off rabbits and ducks," Mr Caldwell said.

"In and after the war food was rationed. My mother used to talk about how hard it was to buy food in the shops."

He's been surprised at the panic buying of food and toilet paper in his local community.

"I think people are panicking too much," he said.

"I think if they look after themselves, live quietly do the right thing, it [the virus] won't spread."

Topics: world-war-2, anzac-day, photography, covid-19, lismore-2480, ulmarra-2462, grafton-2460

First posted