Gloucester RSL sub-Branch celebrates as patron turns 99

GLOUCESTER RSL sub-Branch members gathered on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of branch patron Alan Laurie ‘Toby’ Wilson OAM.

Mr Wilson turns 99 on 19 April.

“It was truly heartening for all present to see Toby in good spirits and enjoying robust health, as well as could be expected for such a significant milestone,” the sub-Branch said in a statement.

“The executives and members of the Gloucester RSL sub-Branch collectively wish Toby a very happy birthday and extend their best wishes for his continued good health in the years to come.”

As a celebration of Toby’s life, the sub-Branch shared a detailed version of his story on social media.

That information is summarised below.

Born in Gloucester on 19 April 1927 Allan Laurie Wilson was the only child of Elsie Wilson.

As a baby it was thought he looked like a Toby Jug and so earned his known name of Toby.

When he turned 16 Toby joined the Air Training Corps at Wingham, spending every second weekend there.

Activities included drill training on the football field opposite, aircraft spotting with cardboard silhouettes and practising with firearms at the local shooting range.

After leaving school, Toby worked as a Grocery Assistant at Garner’s Grocery Store (now Nanna’s at the roundabout).

Not wanting to wait until he was old enough to enlist in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 4 April 1945.

Joining instructions consisted of getting his way to Central Station in Sydney to depart on a troop train for Melbourne, where he was taken to HMAS Cerberus on the Mornington Peninsula for his basic training.

His first ship was the HMAS Uralba.

Arriving at the dock at Newcastle he initially looked around for a big grey boat.

Not seeing any, the only vessel there was a small wooden vessel tied up to the wharf – the “Uralba”.

HMAS Uralba was a wooden auxiliary minefield tender and armament stores carrier launched in 1942 by Ernest Wright, Tuncurry, for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company.

She was requisitioned by the RAN while under construction on 13 July 1942 and commissioned on 22 November 1942.

His time aboard was spent carrying ammunition for delivery along the east coast.

Toby was rated as Ordinary Seaman on 19 April 1945 before being promoted to Able Seaman on 2 January 1946.

HMAS Bataan was commissioned at Sydney on 25 May 1945, although it was too late for the ship to participate in active hostilities.

She proceeded to the Philippines in July 1945 and from there was sent to Japan, reaching Tokyo on 31 August 1945 to take part in the surrender ceremony which took place on 2 September on board USS Missouri.

She remained in Japanese waters assisting with the evacuation of allied prisoners of war and as the Australian Squadron representative until 18 November 1945 when she sailed from Tokyo to return to Australia.

On 20 June 1946, Toby was transferred from the Uralba to the HMAS Bataan.

In September of that year, having spent eight months service in home waters, the Bataan returned to Japan for the first of four tours of duty in the Far East in the post-war period of 1946 to 1949.

While shore leave was available to the sailors, travel was very restricted, however Toby had the opportunity to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to see the devastation wreaked by the nuclear bombs.

Toby also represented the Navy playing Rugby Union in Japan, before he was brought home to be de-mobbed at Rushcutters Bay on 7 March 1947.

He then returned to Gloucester and his old job at Garner’s.

After about six months he was offered a job at Carson’s sawmill which he took.

However, the job was short-lived as he soon moved on to Street & Parish where he worked for the next 20 years.

He fondly recalls the famous actress Anne Baxter, the then wife of Randolph Galt, living at Giro Station and coming into Street & Parish to buy goods ordered specially for her.

Toby married Norma Slade in 1956, and they had many happy years together up until Norma’s passing in November 2022.

Toby spent 20 years as Manager of the Gloucester Bowling Club before retiring in 1992.

After Toby’s retirement he spent a lot of his time socialising with Norma, fishing with mates and making great memories with their many nieces and nephews.

While initially not being accepted as a member of the Gloucester RSL, he joined the Sydney RSL and then transferred his membership to Gloucester.

Toby became a Legacy Legatee and supported war widows and their families for 20-plus years.

He was awarded an OAM in June 2011 for his service to sport, community service and Legacy in Gloucester.

Toby is also a life member of the Gloucester Bowling Club, Gloucester Hockey Club and Gloucester Football club.

He is now a resident of Stroud Community Lodge where he loves spending hours in his garden and enjoying activities with the other residents.