Anzac Day 2020: Ferntree Gully WWII navy veteran Fred Bottrell to conduct his own ceremony at home
He’s devastated to not be able to march this year, but a Ferntree Gully World War II veteran will create his own patriotic ceremony in his backyard to pay tribute to his old navy mates.
Outer East
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The coronavirus outbreak isn’t stopping a Word War II veteran from digging into his special rum stash and saluting his country and his mates.
Ferntree Gully’s Fred Bottrell, 94, who served in the Royal Navy and moved to Australia after the war, will pay his respects in his backyard after Anzac Day services were cancelled due to the outbreak.
Mr Bottrell will fly his Australian flag on Saturday and have a glass of Pusser’s British navy rum to honour his fellow ex-servicemen and women.
He normally attends the Ringwood RSL sub-branch Dawn Service and marches with the submariners association in the CBD.
“It’s very sad (the cancellation), it’s something we’ve done for years, but we just can’t do it,” Mr Bottrell said.
“But I shall fly the flag and drink a top to all my mates. I’ve always been a flag flyer and I’ve had it for years, so I’ll let them know I’m loyal.”
Mr Bottrell, a Ringwood RSL sub-branch member, said he was itching for coronavirus restrictions to be lifted so he could visit again.
“I’m missing it terribly, most things have been cancelled,” he said.
“It’s a social point for me and I’m missing all the welfare and the exercise groups every Tuesday.”
Maroondah Leader featured Mr Bottrell’s reflections on his time in the navy last year and his story reached long-lost relatives in the UK.
He said he’d reconnected with nephews he hadn’t spoken to for nearly 20 years who found him on Facebook.
“It was a rather strange thing, but a very nice thing to happen. I don’t think I would have had the skills to do it (find relatives),’’ Mr Bottrell said.
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“There was a very long, old connection there and it’s great when the modern technology brings you together again.
“I’d be lost without my computer these days and I spend a lot of time on it now connecting with people.”
Meanwhile, neighbours in Ringwood’s Carmen Ct will be able to participate in an Anzac Day tribute close to home on Saturday.
Retired brass band musician Warren Gilbert will be getting out his bugle and playing The Last Post on his driveway at 6am.