Anzac Day 2024: Five World War Two heroes honoured at Sunday Sunset Service in Mosman.

By JACK KELLY. Images: GRAHAM MONRO from gmphotographics

The community’s remaining WWII veterans have been honoured at the Mosman War Memorial ahead of ANZAC day.

A special Sunday Sunset Service to commemorate the 109th landing at Gallipoli saw about 100 locals in attendance, with Second World War Medallions presented to local veterans, Brian Barry, Bill Purdy, Walter Vidler, Jason Tsiropoulos and Frank Powell.

The annual service is a time-honoured part of Anzac commemorations, hosted by the Mosman RSL Sub-Branch and 206 Army Cadet Unit.

Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan and Felicity Wilson MP honoured those who served with a commemoration of the fallen, followed by a medal ceremony for surviving war heroes.

Frank Powell was just 16 when he enlisted to fight with the British Merchant Navy.

He saw service in the Battle of the Atlantic, known as the “longest, largest, and most complex” naval battle in history, where he transported explosive cargo to troops during WWII.

“Essentially, my ship was a floating bomb,” he told Mosman Collective, “and it forced you to grow up fast.”

The veteran said while the Merchant Navy missed out on recognition in the years following the war, he was “delighted” to receive an honour on Sunday.

“It may be a bit belated – but I am very proud to receive this special medal,” he said.

Brian Barry turned 100 in February this year and served the 6th Infantry Division in Papua New Guinea, just five days after marrying his wife, Rose.

The lifelong local grew up in Mosman and went to serve when he was 20 years old.

“Gearing up to go to New Guinea was pretty hairy-scary because you’re only on an old Indonesian tub. And we were in darkness, every night,” he recalled.

The Australians were outnumbered in Papua New Guinea and Australian Forces had to deal with harsh jungle conditions, sickness, low light and flash flooding.

After the war, he became a celebrated NRL referee, officiating close to 300 first-grade games and five grand finals at the SCG.

“I have done as I say, five consecutive Grand Finals and I’m now the ambassador of the New South Wales Referees Association.”

Jason Tsiropoulos was just 15 years old when he volunteered for the British Army, despite having a certificate that cleared him of service.

He went on to join the Royal Signals Corps as a wireless operator.

“I was in Egypt at a young age. I’m still not that young anyway,” he joked.

Winning or losing a battle in war throughout military history could often be chalked down to the Royal Signal Corps’ ability to communicate a message faster and more effectively than the enemy.

Mr Tsiropoulos spent the war transmitting Morse code messages between the 8th Army and India at General Headquarters.

Post-war, the veteran moved to Sydney as a “ten-pound Pom” on the Australian government’s assisted passage scheme.

However, he doesn’t fully agree with the term.

“I’m not a £10 Pom, I’m half Pom and half Greek!”

Bill Purdy, another local war hero, is one of 125,000 airmen – 10,000 of them Australian – who took part in the air war bombing the Nazis in World War II. While 55,000 of his comrades, including around 4100 Australians, never made it home, he survived 37 missions, piloting a Lancaster to attack Germany.

Awarded the DFC, Bill still lives independently in Mosman and lives a full and active life aged 101.