Mr Percy Vince 'Snow' MIDDLETON OAM (24 October 2002, aged 89 years)

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Snow Middleton grew up on his parents' wheat farm in Victoria. Due to sickness at home, he left school at 15 to help run the farm . He enlisted in the AIF in late '39 and was sent to Tobruk, where he soon found himself leading a bayonet charge. This was followed by action in Greece, Egypt and Syria. His Division then returned to Australia because of the Japanese threat. After a period instructing, he was invited to join Z Special Unit which he did. After a stint in PNG he was told to report to Z Special headquarters for further training, after which he served out of Darwin doing raids over to Timor, followed by work on Celebes and in British North Borneo. After the war Snow became involved in Commonwealth Disposals, and went to PNG doing Disposals work in Lae, Wewak and Finschhafen. By mid 1948 he was in charge of Commonwealth Disposals in New Guinea. Later he transferred to Port Moresby working for Treasury, which is where he met his future wife Val.

Snow's services to the RSL and to the community began in the late 1940s and continued for the rest of his life - he took on a variety of positions in numerous voluntary organisations. He retired to Nambour Qld in 1970 and commenced a hobby farm. He then did voluntary work for the Maroochy Swimming Club (timekeeper), St Joseph's Convent, Nambour (as supervisor/instructor for swimming classes), Coes Creek Progress Association (office-bearer), the RSL (various positions, too many to mention) and Sundale Nursing Home (fund-raiser).

Snow is survived by his wife Val and daughters Mary and Helen.

Editor (Una Voce -March 2003)