WWII veteran's journey to Dawn Service ended in unexpected tragedy
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The ANZAC Day Dawn Service is a solemn occasion, a time when Australians and New Zealanders gather in the pre-dawn light to honour the men and women who have served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It's a day that resonates deeply with the spirit of camaraderie, sacrifice, and national pride.
However, this ANZAC Day was marred by a heartbreaking event that has left a community in mourning.
John Atkinson, a 98-year-old World War II veteran, met with a tragic accident while on his way to participate in the Dawn Service in Port Broughton, South Australia.
Mr Atkinson, a respected figure in his community and a man who had served his country with distinction, was travelling on his mobility scooter when he fell.
Despite the efforts of concerned passersby who rushed to his aid and helped him back onto his scooter, he fell a second time.
An ambulance was called, and paramedics used a defibrillator to try and revive Mr Atkinson, but unfortunately, he passed away at the scene.
His son, Russell Atkinson, stated: ‘He was very much looking forward to taking part in the Dawn Service, and later leading the local march from the [The Returned & Services League of Australia], as he has done many times before.’
‘He was so independent and resilient,’ he added.
John Atkinson's life was one of dedication and service. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as soon as he turned 18 in September 1943 and served as a transport driver in the Pacific theatre of WWII.
His service took him to northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, where he contributed to the war effort in a vital capacity.
Back home in Port Broughton, Mr Atkinson was a cherished member of the local RSL club.
Sandra Owen, the Port Broughton RSL President, described him as a ‘cherished’ member of the community.
‘He always put the rum in our coffee at the gunfire breakfast and we always had to watch him to make sure it wasn’t too strong,’ she said.
‘A few weeks ago I bumped into him… and he said, “I haven’t been very well, but I’ll be there on ANZAC Day to put the rum in the coffee.”’
George Blair-Nicholas, a former President of the RSL, paid tribute to Mr Atkinson.
‘He was a very active member right up until not very long ago when his health started to get hold of him,’ he shared. ‘He was always jovial even when he was crook. He was one of those people you feel privileged to know.’
‘It’s left a mighty big hole for all our people here. It really is something that I don’t think we’ll ever get over. It’s a big loss because he was a friend to everybody,’ he added.
The RSL also expressed its sorrow over the loss of Mr Atkinson.
Tony Harrison, a spokesman for the RSL, extended the organisation's deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues within the veteran community.
The media covered the story here:
Source: 7NEWS Australia/YouTube
Our thoughts and prayers are with John Atkinson's family and friends during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.
However, this ANZAC Day was marred by a heartbreaking event that has left a community in mourning.
John Atkinson, a 98-year-old World War II veteran, met with a tragic accident while on his way to participate in the Dawn Service in Port Broughton, South Australia.
Mr Atkinson, a respected figure in his community and a man who had served his country with distinction, was travelling on his mobility scooter when he fell.
John Atkinson was travelling to attend a Dawn Service when he fell from his mobility scooter. Image source: Yorke Peninsula Country Times/Facebook
Despite the efforts of concerned passersby who rushed to his aid and helped him back onto his scooter, he fell a second time.
An ambulance was called, and paramedics used a defibrillator to try and revive Mr Atkinson, but unfortunately, he passed away at the scene.
His son, Russell Atkinson, stated: ‘He was very much looking forward to taking part in the Dawn Service, and later leading the local march from the [The Returned & Services League of Australia], as he has done many times before.’
‘He was so independent and resilient,’ he added.
John Atkinson's life was one of dedication and service. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as soon as he turned 18 in September 1943 and served as a transport driver in the Pacific theatre of WWII.
His service took him to northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, where he contributed to the war effort in a vital capacity.
Mr Atkinson enlisted in the RAAF when he turned 18 years old. Image source: Facebook
Back home in Port Broughton, Mr Atkinson was a cherished member of the local RSL club.
Sandra Owen, the Port Broughton RSL President, described him as a ‘cherished’ member of the community.
‘He always put the rum in our coffee at the gunfire breakfast and we always had to watch him to make sure it wasn’t too strong,’ she said.
‘A few weeks ago I bumped into him… and he said, “I haven’t been very well, but I’ll be there on ANZAC Day to put the rum in the coffee.”’
George Blair-Nicholas, a former President of the RSL, paid tribute to Mr Atkinson.
‘He was a very active member right up until not very long ago when his health started to get hold of him,’ he shared. ‘He was always jovial even when he was crook. He was one of those people you feel privileged to know.’
‘It’s left a mighty big hole for all our people here. It really is something that I don’t think we’ll ever get over. It’s a big loss because he was a friend to everybody,’ he added.
The RSL also expressed its sorrow over the loss of Mr Atkinson.
Tony Harrison, a spokesman for the RSL, extended the organisation's deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues within the veteran community.
The media covered the story here:
Source: 7NEWS Australia/YouTube
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