NPLV1: Red Devils tackle Melbourne City on Friday night

Updated April 23 2015 - 4:33pm, first published 4:00pm
Sergeant Allan Kincaid of the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment, World War II veteran George Remmington and Ballarat Red Devils chairman Duncan Smith at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial.
Sergeant Allan Kincaid of the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment, World War II veteran George Remmington and Ballarat Red Devils chairman Duncan Smith at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial.





BALLARAT Red Devils will commemorate the centenary Anzac Day with a rescheduled Friday night fixture against national youth league side Melbourne City in National Premier League One.

In what will be a momentous occasion for the club, all currently serving and RSL members will receive free entry to the game and a free drink on arrival for the rare Friday fixture.

The match will be a special occasion for all concerned, including McDonalds Reds chairman Duncan Smith, whose grandfather Robert Smith served in World War II.

Smith served in Iceland in 1940/41 and was a D-Day veteran that landed at Normandy and moved through France and into Germany.

Graham Smith, Duncan's father, also served in the Royal Australian Navy for nine years in the 1960s in Japan and South East Asia on the Aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne.

"I know for a fact that Grandpa didn't talk about it very often at all, but remember him telling me a few stories when I was around 12 or 13 way back in the early 80s," Smith said.

"We are more than happy to let any member of the armed forces and returned serviceman or women into the match for free. They can also get their first drink for free as well, whether that is a beer or Coke. It is very much the least we can do and I hope that have a great game of football to watch and have a great ANZAC Day the next day. They deserve it."

The commemorative match also holds a special place in the heart of 98-year-old George Remmington, who spent almost fours years in Papua New Guinea as a Sergeant in the security and communications unit.

"I look forward to catching up with old friends remembering old and good times," he said.

"I remember the time when along with officer , we had to escort a Japanese prisoner across New Guinea for questioning by command for information, and after a day or two of walking we were only allowed to stop overnight at another battalion if I slept beside his prisoner. I did but with one eye open the whole night."

Presently serving here in Ballarat, Sergeant Allan Kincaid with the 8/7 RVR has been part of active service tours to South East Asia twice, East Timor and Afghanistan.

"For me Anzac Day is about reflection, remembering the fallen and also the fallen comrades that I have served with along with being proud of those who have previously served, just like George," he said.

Meanwhile on the football pitch, a sudden turnaround in form has seen Ballarat Red Devils become a near-unstoppable force of late.

Out of nowhere the Reds have turned around their fortunes in their last two matches, signalling a remarkable momentum shift.

Their upset FFA Cup win over Bentleigh Greens led into a 30- trouncing of Dandenong City last week.

Confidence is now sky-high for Ballarat as it heads into the clash against fourth-placed Melbourne City.

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