Tony Hanusch
'Tony and I served on the OP crews. At the time that we worked together he was the BC's ack and I was on callsign 21.
'I remember going to Canada and having to ruff it on nights, like us OP's had to do a few times. Well, it was freezing and me and Tony put up some kind of shelter and made ready for a cold night. Then he produced a bottle of Brandy and said to me, 'We can be cold, but we can still have a night of it.'
'The next thing we knew was Major Bray waking us and asking what had happened.
'Tony told him that we had spent most the night on stag and that the relief had never arrived. He thanked us both and went looking for the gun crews who were supposed to have been on stag.
'We both had a great laugh at the gun crews being bollocked. But I'm sure they got their own back the next day.
'Tony called a fire mission and the rounds dropped so short that the Canadian General called a halt to the exercise.
'Great times spent by all. But Tony made it all possible.
Never to be forgotten. A great mate to all.'
Once a Redneck, always a Redneck!
Doug Ingham
'S/Major McCluskie, Tony and I flew out to some LZ in the jungle. Tony and myself were tasked to find a river and see if it would make a good base camp for the troop for jungle training. Well I counted about 1000 paces out from LZ, we found river, and started to make our way back. I know it sounds stupid, but we could hear the chopper, but could we hell find it.
'Anyway with dusk approaching the chopper left and we were left behind. Tony, not one for sitting around, decided we would walk out, and me thinking, which way?
'After about an hour, we came across a band of Chickalero bandits who were camped down for the night. Tony decided to go and talk to them while I covered him. They seemed happy for us to stay near their camp. Next morning when we woke there was no sign of them so we continued on our way.
'We did eventually find our way to the main highway and back to camp. I still think after all these years, what a cool and calm person Tony was. How did he know which way to go? And I never found out what he said to those Chickalero bandits.
'I had the pleasure of meeting Tony's parents a couple of years later and what a lovely couple. They couldn't do enough for you. I have fond memories of the time spent in Otley.
'I spent time on Tony's gun crew and I found him to be a hard but fair man. I also felt it a privilege to be his friend.
'Rest in Peace Tony.
'Gone But Not Forgotten.
'Once a Redneck, always a Redneck!'
Keith Batey
'I remember him well for two especial reasons.
1. If you got on the wrong side of him, did not do what was asked, spend a long time sick or on the loo, then he was not pleased, and you knew about it and had better be able to take a punch.
'2. He was fair. If you had a problem he would advise and sort out in his own way. He could always be counted on when it was needed.
'A very sad passing from the battery and worthy of rememberance. Some gunners were in the battery and some were the battery. He was one of the latter.
'Once a Redneck, always a Redneck!'
Hank Fowler
