WHEN Albert Borella charged a German machine gun post with a revolver on the Western Front in 1918, he likely didn't even turn his head, because he knew his men would follow him.
SUCH was the action of a man often described as a born leader during a "short, sharp and bloody" battle for which he won the Northern Territory's only Victoria Cross.
Borella's extraordinary determination and sense of responsibility have been celebrated for the past 12 days, as his grandson Richard retraced his 1000km journey from Tennant Creek in Central Australia all the way to Darwin to enlist in the First World War.The re-enactment of Borella's journey by foot, horseback, horse-drawn mail cart and train is part of the official centenary commemorations of the war.Albert Borella had to sail from Darwin to Townsville to enlist, and was not assigned to the Light Horse Brigade as he had hoped, but with the far more dangerous infantry.He fought in Gallipoli for the last two months of that campaign before being sent to the Western Front."He saw that something needed to be done and he simply stepped forward and did it," said war historian Tom Lewis at the closing of the Borella Ride on Tuesday night in Darwin, where several hundred people gathered, many in period costume, to celebrate the life of a remarkable man.His military career was characterised by his strong sense of duty, dedication and determination, Mr Lewis said."It made him a magnificent Australian; never forget him."As a father, Albert was quiet, respectful, and a gentleman, said his only surviving son, Rowan."We all looked up to him and respected him," he said."He was a man who never went into a rage, never went into a panic. I can't recall ever receiving a whack on the backside."He thanked his son Richard for his efforts retracing Albert's footsteps - five months ago, Richard didn't know how to ride a horse. His parents followed his journey in a caravan."We've had it really easy. We've had support, people cooking for us," Richard told AAP."One hundred years ago you had it damned tough and I don't think I could have done it (then), no way."Only eight months old when Albert died, the ride had brought his grandfather closer, he said.NT Chief Minister Adam Giles says a new suburb will be named for Borella when one is developed in future.Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
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