Veteran Joe Kiernan and Cecil Boland keeps the legacy of our servicemen and women alive

JOE Kiernan and Cecil Boland are both 91, but age has only made these two veterans more determined to keep the Anzac spirit alive.

Joe Kiernan joined the Royal Australian Navy at the tender age of 20, and within two years he was sent off to the Korean War.

Joining the navy in 1948, Mr Kiernan, of Canley Vale, said his first ship, HMAS Sydney, was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier and the newest in the fleet.

Former Canley Vale RSL Club president Joe Tiernan.

Joe Tiernan served in the RAN during the Korean War.

“We took pride in our ship and continued to paint her while we were at sea,” he recalled.

“There were seamen over the side of the carrier, so when we arrived in Japan we looked on the job,” he said. “When we pulled in beside the British ship, HMS Glory, we went over to ask them what it was like and what to expect in Korea, and their ship was filthy dirty.”

Former Canley Heights RSL Club president Joe Tiernan is 91+ and still going strong. Picture: Phil Rogers

Mr Kiernan said the Aussies took over the post from HMS Glory and when the “dirty ship” arrived into Sydney Harbour for a refit, the local press jumped on the opportunity to link the ship to the perils of war.

“The paper had a big picture of the ship with the headline ‘War stains and battle worn, Glory steams up Sydney Harbour’ but it was because nobody had cleaned it the whole time.”

The humble Mr Kiernan said he once got a real shock when a young man went out of his way to thank him for his service. “A young bloke came up to me after the march a couple of years ago and shook my hand and said ‘thank you’,” he said.

“I said ‘what for?’ because it’s not often they do that.”

Former Canley Vale RSL Club president Joe Tiernan.

When Mr Kiernan was discharged from the navy in 1960, he helped build the Canley Vale RSL.

Now 91, he is the only remaining foundation member and boasts the No. 1 card.

“We try to get involved with the local schools now, because it’s important to keep the legacy of the Anzacs alive,” he said.

CECIL BOLAND

WORLD War II veteran and dialysis patient Cecil Boland, 91, presented an Anzac Day address at Fairfield Hospital on Friday.

Paul Bryant (Fairfield RSL), World War II veteran Cecil Boland, 91, an Fairfield Hospital general manager Arnold Tammekand. Picture: Tim Clapin.

“I joined the Australian Army at 18, in 1944.

After training, I was sent to Port Moresby to stop the advancement of the Japanese soldiers invading Australia.

It was a horrible time. Every minute, you were scared of being attacked and killed by enemy soldiers. It was difficult to sleep. And they would hide out in the trees. I was shot at quite regularly and lucky not to be injured or killed. My job was in the engineers, repairing damaged bridges.

“It was sad to see a few mates that were killed, but that sadly was war. A lot of the island inhabitants were injured and killed as well, that was very hard to take. I still get upset thinking about that. They were such great people.

In September 1945, Japan surrendered. I was finally on the way back home. I returned by ship; most of the crew became sea sick. I decided to help run the vessel by loading the boilers with coal.

It was an honour to serve in the army, and to fight and defend my country from possible invasion by the enemy.

I stand here today, feeling humble to be able to tell my story. “