Arthur Edmund James ‘Ted’ Pott’s parents married on 11 September 1943 while his father, also Arthur Edmund Pott, was serving in the RAAF. Ted’s father was killed in action off Timor on 9 October 1944 before Ted was born in Bowen, Queensland, on 15 March 1945. Ted’s mother Heather (nee Stuart) lived with his grandfather, Arthur Pott, on the property ‘Burnfoot’ near Bowen. After the war, probably after Arthur Senior died, Ted’s mother, Heather, moved herself and Ted to her parent’s home at Buranda, an inner southern Brisbane suburb. Heather married Rob Eberhardt and they would have Janine and Rob, Ted’s half-siblings. Later Ted attended the Stafford State School. In 1961 he found work with the Bank of NSW (now Westpac) as a Bank Officer. He was still with the bank when called up for National Service. He commenced at 1 RTB Kapooka as 1730857 on 30 June 1965. Ted was selected for officer training, commencing at the Officer Training Unit (OTU), Scheyville, on 16 July 1965 as a member of Captain Norman Uniacke’s 17 Section, 6 Platoon, B Company in Room 7, Hut C2, the hut on the Lower Road nearest to the Parade Ground. His Section mates were Alexander Bomm, Angus McNeilage, Alan Plummer, Dave Roberts and Robert Toyer who all graduated. In his Senior Term Ted was the Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS), the second highest ranking Officer Cadet. Ted graduated with his class on 18 December 1965, was allocated to the Infantry and posted to 5 RAR with Finney Roe, Terry O’Hanlon, Harry Neesham and John Deane-Butcher.

5 RAR had been raised at the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney on 1 March 1965. It was comprised of surplus 1RAR soldiers, 1 RAR by this time serving in Vietnam, and was brought up to strength with ‘Nashos’ of the first intake who had completed Recruit Training and Infantry Corps Training. The battalion arrived in Vietnam on 19 April 1966 and established the Nui Dat Task Force Base. Another of Class 1/65, Kerry Rinkin, who was initially posted to 3 TB Singleton, joined 5 RAR in Vietnam through the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit. Sadly, shortly after taking over 6 Platoon, B Company, Kerry was killed on 7 April 1967.

The 2IC of D Company, 5 RAR, Captain Ron Boxall, said ‘In early 1966 Ted became a member of an historic group of five young Australians posted to 5 RAR upon graduation, they would become the first members of the first Scheyville class to be committed to war. Customarily we have never dwelt on the source of commissioning of our fellow ‘Tiger’ officers but, some 60 years down the track, we would do well to remember that we counted among us five young men who are unique in Australian history. Ted Pott was one of these special men.’ Note: to gain combat experience Captain Boxall took over Ted’s platoon when Ted went on R&R! Ted returned to Australia with 5 RAR on 12 May 1967.

Mick Deak, now known as Baron von Berg, said Ted was “a wonderful, unassuming dedicated young fellow platoon commander!” Post National Service Ted returned to the bank and became the Chief Clerk for Queensland for the bank. He married Kay on 4 May 1968 with classmate David Beasley as his Best Man. Ted and Kay would have three children: Anita, Glenn and Lyle who sadly died at Toowoomba in 2013 aged just 37 years. Ted had a varied working life. He returned to the bank post-NS but left and took on a Mini Mart at Chermside. He then decided to become a farmer and took over a 2,000 head piggery near Toowoomba. While still running the piggery he then worked with Dalgety’s and later Elders. The piggery was sold in 1986. A change saw him train for and become a Financial Adviser.

But farming was his preferred occupation, and he retired from his Financial Adviser role in the late 1990s and he and Kaye left Toowoomba and took over part of his late grandfather’s property, Burnfoot, at Bowen and raised cattle. The property was sold in 2011 and Ted and Kaye returned to Toowoomba, but Lyle’s death in 2013 in a car crash changed everything.

Later in life Ted was affected by Alzheimer’s and was moved into Palm Lake Care in Toowoomba. Ted died at Toowoomba on 16 July 2025, the 60th Anniversary of the day that he and his fellow classmates of Class 1/65 marched in to OTU Scheyville. His funeral service was held at Toowoomba on 24 July 2025 and was attended by numerous members of his platoon from Vietnam. His Scheyville Graduation classmates Laurie Muller, Terry O’Hanlon (right), who spoke during the service, and Gordon Hurford attended. Unfortunately, David Beasley, who was due to speak, had caught Covid and could not attend.

At the funeral service it was mentioned that Ted could be described the words loving, supportive, selfless, protective, fearless, generous (in particular for volunteering) and humble. He was a man with a true sense of duty. Was a member of Lions, a regular volunteer at the softball competitions and his pride and joy was a Jaguar motor car. (David Beasley, 1/65 and Neil Leckie 3/68)

John Robert Weiland was born in Hiroshima, Japan, on 23 July 1949 to Reginald John (Reno) and Eiko Weiland. He completed his secondary education at Scotch College, WA, before attending the West Australian Institute of Technology, gaining an Associateship of Australian Public Relations. John was employed as a Public Relations Consultant with Fortune P. R. Consultants before entering the Army as National Serviceman 534320 on 27 September with the 4th Intake in 1972.

At this time, John was already a Lieutenant with the Citizen Military Force. He commenced OTU on 15 October with 4 Platoon, Monash Company. When National Service was cancelled from 5 December 1972, John opted to continue in the Army. In his Senior Term, John was the Monash Platoon Colour Sergeant. He graduated with Class 4/72 on 18 April 1973 and allocated to the Public relations Corps. By early 1974 he was posted to HQ 3rd Military District (Melbourne) as a Staff Officer Grade 4 (PR). He continued serving in the Army for many years, retiring with a PHd and the rank of Colonel. It was said of John: “He loved his soldiers, and his soldiers loved him.” John was the brother of Janet (and later brother-in-law of Gary) and Glenn (deceased).

His beloved life partner was Janene and he was a proud and loving father to Philippa, Alexandra and Nicolette. John was a loved uncle of Mika, Riya and Sian, and a grand-uncle to Winston. He died on 30 August 2022 in Brisbane. John’s funeral was held at the Mount Gravatt Cemetery on 3 September 2022 and was followed by a gathering at The United Service Club.