The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (17071) Captain Kenneth “Ken” Wilfred Bade 105 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, Vietnam.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (17071) Captain Kenneth “Ken” Wilfred Bade 105 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, Vietnam.

17071 Captain Kenneth “Ken” Wilfred Bade 105 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
KIA 8 January 1966
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 16 October 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Kenneth Wilfred Bade.

Kenneth Bade was born on 18 October 1938 in Queensland to Albert and Mary Bade. His early childhood was spent at Rosewood in Queensland. His father had served in the Volunteer Defence Corps in the Second World War, and it was from his father that Bade learned about duty, commitment to his country, and a fierce national pride. He grew up wanting to be a soldier.

When he was 12 Bade moved with his family to Toowoomba, Queensland, where he attended North State School and Toowoomba Grammar School. He joined the school’s cadet unit and served with distinction, and in 1956 was made cadet under officer.

An exceptional shot, Bade was awarded his marksman’s badge for his proficiency with a .303 rifle. In 1955 he was part of the school’s team, which finished first in Australia and tenth in the Empire as part of the Earl Roberts Competition. The team also won the Stevenson Cup the following year.

In 1956 Bade was accepted into the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He underwent training to become an officer in the Australian Regular Army, and took additional courses to better equip him as a leader of men. He also obtained his pilot’s licence. At 21 Bade was made a Justice of the Peace and given a diplomatic pass.

After graduating from Duntroon in December 1960 Bade was posted to the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. He completed a science degree at the University of Queensland, and during one maths
class met his future wife, Robyn Anderson. The pair was married at St Lucia Presbyterian Church in Brisbane on 14 September 1964. Bade’s RMC classmates Ian Hearn and Alan Thompson served as best man and
groomsman.

In 1965 Bade was posted as a forward artillery observer to the 105th Field Regiment, and embarked for service in the Vietnam War aboard HMAS Sydney (III), as part of 1RAR.

On 8 January 1966 Operation Crimp was launched in the Ho Bo Woods. The objective was to locate and destroy a major enemy headquarters known to be in the area. The men of 1RAR were airlifted into the area,
and shortly after entering the woods began to take casualties from enemy snipers. As they advanced they discovered enemy bunkers and a series of tunnels.

That afternoon Bade and his men were moving past a clump of bamboo when a booby trap detonated in a nearby tree. Those nearby were blown off their feet. Bade had taken the full brunt of the blast and was mortally wounded. The company’s second in command, Captain Peter Arnison, rushed to assist, but it was too late. Bade died as Arnison comforted him.

Bade’s body was returned to Brisbane, and a funeral was held with full military honours in the same church where he had married his wife 16 months earlier. His pallbearers were made up of men from RMC and the
4th Field Regiment, and he was laid to rest in the Queensland Garden of Remembrance. He was 27 years old.

Captain Bade’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among more than 500 others from the Vietnam War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Captain Kenneth Wilfred Bade, and all Australians who have given their lives in service
of our nation.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section