Cathy Wayne
| Cathy Wayne | |
|---|---|
 Cathy Wayne publicity shot |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Catherine Anne Warnes |
| Born | 7 December 1949 Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 20 July 1969 (aged 19) Da Nang, Vietnam |
| Genres | pop, rock |
| Occupations | singer, dancer |
| Years active | 1965–1969 |
| Associated acts | Col Joye, Sweethearts on Parade |
Cathy Wayne was the stage name of Australian entertainer Catherine Anne Warnes (7 December 1949 – 20 July 1969) who was killed during the Vietnam War by United States Marine Sergeant James Wayne Killen.[1][2][3][4] Wayne had just finished a song for US Marines at a non-commissioned officer's club near Da Nang in South Vietnam.[2][3] Killen was convicted of the unpremeditated murder of Wayne; at his court-martial it was alleged that he was aiming for his commanding officer, Major Roger E. Simmons.[1][2][3] Wayne had intended to use money earned from her performances in Vietnam to revive her recording career;[1][3] and to marry her fiancée, Clive Cavanagh, who was the drummer for her performance troupe, Sweethearts on Parade.[2] Wayne was the first Australian woman killed during the Vietnam War.[1][2]
[edit] Biography
Cathy Wayne was born as Catherine Anne Warnes on 7 December 1949 in Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia.[2] Wayne was the child of George Warnes and Nancy Starnes, née Buck.[1][2] She went to Athelstane Public School where she began singing and dancing classes.[1] Wayne later attended Arncliffe Girls' High School, and, before the age of 12, had performed in school concerts and local community stage shows.[1] She took up a dancing spot on Sydney television, TCN-9, programme Opportunity Knocks.[1] She also appeared on an Australian TV special, A Night with Leslie, starring US entertainer Leslie Uggams.[2][3] At the age of 16, after winning a talent contest, Wayne was offered a regular role on television variety show, Bandstand, alongside veteran Rock 'N' Roll performers Col Joye and Little Pattie.[1][2][3] Wayne signed with Joye's agency ATA and was managed by his sister Carole Jacobsen.[2][3]
Although under legal drinking age, Wayne performed in licensed clubs around Sydney, she also recorded advertising jingles and uncharted singles.[1][2] Concert tours along the east coast of Australia, headlined by Joye, led to her first tour of South Vietnam at the age of 17, in early 1967.[1][2] This tour was sanctioned by the Australian Forces Advisory Committee on Entertainment.[1] Wayne was presented as a modette version of fellow Bandstand regular Little Pattie.[3] Upon return to Australia, Wayne continued her appearances on Bandstand and touring with Joye.[1]
In mid-1969, Sweethearts on Parade, an Australian pop group / performing troupe, was established by Sydney promoter Les Maisler to tour Vietnam.[2][5] Sweethearts on Parade consisted of Wayne on lead vocals, Clive Cavanagh on drums, Jacqui Edwards as a Go-Go dancer, Rick Hoare on guitar, Jeff Howison as MC / singer / comedian, Jimmy Taylor on organ / bass guitar and Natalia Woloch as a Go-Go dancer.[2][5] Wayne, as lead singer of Sweethearts on Parade, returned to South Vietnam on an unsanctioned tour.[3][4] Wayne's parents and Col Joye attempted to dissuade her from this second tour,[3] but Wayne insisted and intended to use money earned from her performances in Vietnam to restart her recording career.[1][3] Wayne wanted to marry her fiancée, Cavanagh, who was the drummer in Sweethearts on Parade.[2] The group arrived in Vietnam on 26 June 1969, Wayne stayed in Saigon between shows for Australian and US troops.[2]
The tour agent was Ingrid Hart,[1][4] who recalled that "[Wayne] wanted to be there with her boyfriend, they were going to get some money together and get married".[4] On 20 July 1969, Sweethearts on Parade were performing for about 75 US Marines at a non-commissioned officer's club 7 km (4 mi) south-east of Da Nang in South Vietnam.[2][3] At about 9:15 p.m., Wayne had just finished a song and was still on stage to introduce her fellow performers when she was shot in the chest by a bullet fired by US Marine Sergeant James Wayne Killen.[1][2][3] Wayne died almost instantly as the bullet severed her aorta.[2] In Entertaining Vietnam, a 2003 documentary directed and produced by Mara Wallis,[6] Taylor was interviewed on the events of Wayne's death, footage of a Sweethearts on Parade performance with Wayne singing was shown (see screenshot at left).[6] Taylor recalled that he was sitting about a metre (three feet) behind Wayne and that Cavanagh had stepped forward to cradle his fiancée when she slumped to the floor.[2][5][6]
At his court-martial, Killen was charged with premeditated murder and was alleged to have been aiming for his commanding officer, Major Roger E. Simmons.[1][2] Killen was convicted of the unpremeditated murder of Wayne;[1][2] he was stripped of all service privileges, dishonourably discharged and sentenced to 20 years hard labour.[1][2][3] Killen denied all murder claims but admitted to drinking heavily on the night.[2][3] After the autopsy in Saigon, Wayne's body was returned to Sydney and cremated according to Anglican rites.[1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Rayner, Michelle (2002). "Warnes, Catherine Anne (1949–1969)". Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB). Melbourne, Vic.: Melbourne University Press. p. 496. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160588b.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Digital copy of item with barcode 11531717 - File No.: 62/2/3/2 - Subject: Catherine A. Warnes". National Archives of Australia. pp. 1–125. http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=11531717&I=1&SE=1. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Cockington, James (2001). "The Saigon RSL". Long Way to the Top: Stories of Australian Rock & Roll. Sydney, N.S.W.: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. p. 138–140. ISBN 9780733307508.
- ^ a b c d McHugh, Siobhán (1993). Minefields and Miniskirts: Australian Women and the Vietnam War. Melbourne, Vic.: Doubleday. p. 75–76, 104. ISBN 9780868244907. http://books.google.com.au/books?client=firefox-a&id=W49uAAAAMAAJ&dq=Siobhan+McHugh+Minefields+and+Miniskirts%2C&q=cathy+wayne&pgis=1#search_anchor. Retrieved 2009-02-21. NOTE: On-line version has limited access.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Jimmy. "The Jimmy Taylor Story Part 2". Jimmy Taylor. http://www.jimmytaylor.net/part2.html. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ a b c "Entertaining Vietnam - A film by Mara Wallis". Entertaining Vietnam. 2003. http://www.entertainingvietnam.com/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
