NOTTAGE, Gary Thomas
| Service Number: | 4717760 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) |
| Born: | Port Pirie, South Australia, 26 March 1945 |
| Home Town: | Port Pirie, Port Pirie City and Dists, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Port Pirie, South Australia, 26 October 2008, aged 63 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Port Pirie General Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 1 Jul 1962: | Involvement Private, 4717760 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 4717760 | |
| 7 Sep 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 4717760, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) | |
| 5 Nov 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 4717760 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Garry Nottage passed away in the Port Pirie Hospital on the 26th Oct 08 after a very short illness. Garry was a valuable member of Reconnaissance Platoon on the battalion's first tour of SVN 66/67. After working in the smelter works in Port Pirie, Garry at 19 years of age decided to join the Army. An original member of the Anti Tank Platoon, Garry volunteered to attend the Recce Platoon training and selection course in Nov 66 and passed that course with flying colours. His early teens working in the heat and intensity of the smelting works served him well for the arduous tasks to follow. Everyone in Recce Platoon, like many other Platoons' in the Battalion had nicknames and Garry's was "Background" mainly due to his quiet demeanour and the fact that he never complained about anything and when in a group would always be in the "background". Although quiet and reserved he was an enthusiastic and competent member of the team who went about his tasks with determination and resilience. He also responded with good humour to his new found nickname.
After Vietnam and after his period of regular service had expired he went back to live and work in his home town of Port Pirie. His funeral service was held in a small local funeral parlour on Thursday 30th Oct 08 and Garry was laid to rest in the Port Pirie cemetery in the war graves section attended by his family, friends and members of the local ex service community. Bob "Dogs" Kearney, Dennis Mills and me as the only other ex Recce Platoon members in SA drove up for the funeral and to support his partner Pat. We were honoured to be asked to be pall bearers and particularly proud during a eulogy delivered by one of his ex service mates of no matter how low at times Garry would get struggling with his inner demons he would always say how proud he was to have served in SVN with the Tiger Battalion and Recce Platoon.
Garry may have been in the "background" during his time with us but he certainly is not in the background of our thoughts and memories. Rest in peace old digger!
Michael "Deaky" von Berg MC.
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