Beaudesert man Errol Yuke, who served nine years in the Royal Australian Navy, has been posthumously honoured with the awarding of a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate for his tour of duty aboard HMAS Perth during the Vietnam War.
The medallion and certificate were accepted on Errol’s behalf by his cousin Roslyn Yuke last week at the Beaudesert RSL Sub-Branch headquarters.
The Australian Government is marking the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War by presenting medallions and certificates as a small but meaningful way to honour the service and sacrifice of the 60,000 men and women who served in the war.
A televised Commemorative Service will be held at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra on 18 August.
Errol Yuke served in the Navy from 1961 to 1970. As a Leading Seaman, he was a crew member of HMAS Perth which conducted patrols along the coast of North Vietnam and provided support operations for ground forces fighting in South Vietnam.
A standout time for him during his naval career was a posting to the US in 1965 where he spent six months after the Navy accepted the Perth from its builder and prepared it for its passage home to Australia.
One of many highlights during his stay in the US was a visit to Las Vegas where he managed to take in a Frank Sinatra performance at the historic Sands Hotel and Casino.
Following his discharge from the Navy, Errol worked for the old PMG and Telstra as a linesman before his retirement.
“The Navy meant a lot to him and for the rest of his life he kept in touch with many of his old mates,” said Roslyn.
Errol passed away in 2019 aged 77.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs said the commemorative medallion and certificate are being made available to every living veteran, widows of veterans, and other family members of veterans of the Vietnam War.
