QLD: Fought for mates, not king, recalls veteran in Cairns

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2004
QLD: Fought for mates, not king, recalls veteran in Cairns

By Lloyd Jones

CAIRNS, Qld, April 25 AAP - "You only thought of your mates, you didn't think of the
king or the queen," 82-year-old war veteran Peter Garnett recalled at today's Anzac ceremony
in Cairns.

Mr Garnett, who attended today's ceremony with son Adam, 36, and grandson Peter, 7,
said Anzac Day brought back fond memories of his wartime friends, some of whom did not
make it home.

As a young man in England, he joined the Royal Dragoons before World War II and was
a horse soldier in Palestine and Egypt before the British cavalry regiment switched to
armoured cars in 1940.

He fought in North Africa then Italy and northern Europe where his regiment battled
through France and Holland before helping liberate Denmark.

Mr Garnett, who moved to Australia with his wife in 1953, said his unit fought alongside
many British and Commonwealth units in North Africa and he met many Australians at Tobruk
and El Alamein.

"The Australians we knew better than the others. We liked them better than the other fellas."

He was wounded twice during the war, made and lost many good mates and recalled that
friendships were what kept most people going.

"You only thought of your mates, you didn't think of the king or the queen, you thought
of your mates."

Mr Garnett, wearing his medals including French and Danish decorations, today rode
in an Army Landrover but has marched in past years in the Anzac Day parade in Cairns.

His son Adam said it was good to see the respect and care shown for veterans by serving
soldiers today.

"I'm very proud of my father and his comrades and I think it's important for the children
to absorb a little bit of what the older generation have done to make us live in a lucky
country."

Mr Garnett senior said he could not have a better friend than his son and he looked
forward to having a few beers and a sit-down later today.

AAP ldj/cat/br

KEYWORD: ANZAC CAIRNS (WITH PIX)

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