Denmark in the South West of WA; Recollections of War (2021)

Australia So Much to See

Within the main display room is an amazing collection of 315 models in military uniforms from around the world spanning centuries, created by Reginald Copeman. 

Reg was born in England in 1931.  At the age of sixteen he joined the Boys Brigade, Royal Artillery in Woolwich.  His career included the 5th regiments Royal Horse Artillery, Lark Hill, Salisbury (1949-50), Hong Kong with the 23rd Field Artillery (1950-51), and served in Korea with the 61st Light Regiment (1952-53). 

After returning to the United Kingdom in 1953, he volunteered for the SAS and in 1953 went to Malaya to undertake a jungle training course. He served in the Army based at Lark Hill from 1956. 

In 1960 he went on an exchange with the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, California.  Between 1961 and 1968 her served in Malaya, Aden, Germany and Norway.  He was discharged in 1968 having attained the rank of Warrant Office Class 2. 

Reg’s non-military career took him to Zambian and Sierra Leone in Africa, training police (watch guards).  In 1973 he moved to Australia, working as a surveyor’s assistant in Port Hedland, then joined a survey party at Newman and worked there for twenty years until he retired in 1993. 

He then travelled around Australia before settling in Denmark in the mid 1990s.  He was awarded Denmark Citizen of the Year in 2008, and Denmark Senior Citizen of the Year in 2018 for his work in the community, including regularly collecting rubbish from the roadsides. 

Reg started making soldiers when living in Newman, commencing with a Cossack.  It took him around 50 days to make each soldier. Reg has made everything and painted to the finest detail based on reference material, ensuring historical accuracy.