Ceylon soldiers to march next Anzac Day

War veterans injured in the accident during Melbourne's Anzac Day parade have vowed
to march again next year, as organisers consider whether vintage military vehicles
should be used in the event.
Eight Sri Lankan war veterans were hurt when a vintage military truck, driven by
64-year-old Russell Hughes, lurched out of control and struck them from behind,
opposite the Arts Centre on St Kilda Road about 12.30pm (AEST) on Sunday.
World War II veteran Sydney Ludowyke, 87, broke his pelvis and hip, and Maurice
Gibson, 79, suffered stomach injuries. Both are in a stable condition in the Royal
Melbourne Hospital.
"Before I could say Jack Robinson, I was knocked over and I was rolling underneath
the vehicle," Mr Gibson told reporters.
"I praise God that I wasn't killed and that I didn't have injuries to my head.
"To me, that's the true Anzac spirit, and I'll be there (marching) next year, God
willing."
Mr Ludowyke was the first to be hit.
"I felt I was flat from the hip down, I was flat on the ground," he said.
"It was a pancake or something like it.
"The truck driver spoke to me today on the phone and he apologised to me. I said,
`Don't worry about it. It's an accident'."
Lionel Daniels, 85, and former navy diver Reg Oorloof, 68, are in a stable condition
at The Alfred, while Kenny Fernando and Ken Pietersz, have been released from
hospital.
Mr Daniels sobbed as he told reporters of his ordeal.
"Suddenly somebody knocks you down. It's a bit of a disaster for me," he said.
Mr Fernando, 89, was sitting on the rear tray of the truck and fell off his seat and
injured his shoulder.
The Major Collision Investigation Unit examined the truck on Monday.
"The issue is has the accelerator stuck on and caused the collision so are we
looking for a mechanical fault, or is it a factor from the driver," Sergeant Damien
Madden told reporters.
Police have the details of about 80 witnesses but they are keen to hear from anyone
who took video footage or pictures just before or during the accident.
Mr Hughes has owned the truck for 12 years and drove it every few months, Sgt Madden
said.
"It's his prized possession and he has driven that quite a bit," he said.
He said Mr Hughes had driven the truck in 11 Anzac Day parades and was deeply
traumatised by the accident.
"He's upset about what occurred in the collision, but also the ramifications of what
occurred and what effect that will have on future Anzac Day parades," he said.
Victoria RSL president David McLachlan said the Anzac Day Commemoration Council
would discuss the incident when it meets within the next two weeks.
He said the RSL, the march organisers, were saddened to learn about the accident.
"We were very distressed to know that some of our veterans were injured," he told AAP.
"Our concern goes out to the injured veterans and their families."
Arden Perkins, the president of the Ceylon Ex-Servicemen's Association of Australia,
said he was relieved the incident had not been worse.
He said those caught up in the incident were thankful to the people who came to the
injured veterans' aid.
"There's no blame to anybody and we'll all march again next year," Mr Perkins told AAP.
The Ceylon Ex-Servicemen's Association has been marching in the Anzac Day parade for
33 years.
Soldiers from Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka, fought with the Anzacs at Gallipoli.
"There's a lot of history there so that's why we take Anzac Day so seriously," Mr
Perkins said.