80 Years Since The Blackout Curtains Came Down

Many Odd Bods experienced vivid memories of the day they pulled down the blackout curtains in their UK accomodation at the end of the war in Europe. That was the day they dared dream of returning home after a drawn-out terrifying war.

The end of the war in Europe, Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on 8th May each year, and this year it celebrates 80 years since that great day. On 8th May 1945 Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe, and Odd Bods made their way home to Australia, and a new world order.

It was the Odd Bods who instigated a special VE Day service at the Melbourne Shrine back in 1956, and each year since we have been a key contributor. In 2023 then President Bruce Waxman presented the address in the hallowed Inner Sanctum of the Melbourne Shrine, followed in 2024 by Odd Bods member Wing Commander Mike Oram. 

Arrangements for this year's service are currently being considered and will be announced nearer the time. It is difficult to believe that 80 years have passed since the war's end, and this will be a particularly good time to remember the sacrifices made by our Odd Bods.

"Pressing on ... remembering"

*Link to 2023 VE Day address by then President Bruce Waxman.

A Long Yarn About WW2

 

Art is art, even if it is made of knitting wool and this display has reached mammoth proportions in its depiction of the Battle of Normandy in 1944. The Battle of Normandy involved many Odd Bods and incuded the D-Day invasion.

The Longest Yarn is a registered non profit Association in France, totally self funding. Their crafters are from all age groups and walks of life. The work is 80 meters long representing 80 years and the 80 days of The Battle of Normandy, including D-Day. It is broken up in to 80 one meter panels being constructed around the world… from as far as Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Europe. 

Each panel represents what happened on June 6th 1944 - with men loading up in England and stuck there because of the storm, to the fierce battles on the landing beaches in Normandy, the bombardment of the civilian population with towns and cities flattened by allied bombing. 

The display has been touring around the UK, and will reach New Jersey in the USA in April 2025.

A big thank you to member, Bryan Wilcockson of Selby UK, who sent us details after the display was exhibited in Selby’s twinned town of Carentan.

The Day A Canberra Bomber Flew Through A Hanger ....Or Did It?

Flying a jet powered medium bomber through an aircraft hangar is not for the faint hearted, and we can understand why this photo caused a stir back in 1955. Such a dangerous activity is certainly not in the RAAF book of procedures.

Manipulating photographs is quite common today, in fact many of us do it on our mobile phones, but it took some special photographic talent, and some special props to achieve this photo back in 1955.

Apparently the aircraft was sitting on stands for servicing with it's wheels up when the photo was taken, and those stands were removed from the picture during the developing process. The result caused some laughs, and maybe a bit of explaining, but the end result is certainly entertaining.

Remembrance Day 2024

Remembrance Day celebrates the signing of the Armistice that ended the fighting with Germany in WW1 but has become a day to remember all who fought in wars. It is particularly honoured in Commonwealth countries.

Red Poppies were commonly found on the battlefields of WW1, especially on the Western Front, and have become a symbol of remembrance.

In 2024 services were held as far away as London, and as close as the Repatriation Hospital at Heidleberg, Melbourne, where the Odd Bods have a bronze plaque in the memorial garden and the original Odd Bods banner is proudly displayed in a foyer.

Here are some photos from the 2024 memorial services in London and the Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne.

The Royal family gathers in London.

King Charles lays the wreath.

Peter Randell, Cathy Randell, and Gary Elliott at the Odd Bods plaque, Repatriation Hospital 11/11/2024.

Repatriation Hospital Memorial Service 11/11/2024

Warbirds - Loud, Fast & Low

 The sight and sound of WW2 aircraft can have quite an impact, and if you get goosebumps listening to those powerful engines, we have a youtube channel for you.

The Warbirds channel has videos on a number of famous aircraft, both Allies and Axis Powers.

Check out the link here - Warbirds

Vale Jennifer Hibbens - 2/10/2024

Farewelling our veteran members has been an inevitable consequence of time since WW2, but on this occasion we are saying goodbye to a Committee Member and Daughter of a veteran.

Jennifer (Jenn) Hibbens passed on 2/10/24. Jenn had been ill for sometime, but continued her valuable contribution to our Association as Committee Member and Welcoming Officer. 

Jenn represented the Association at The National Battle of Britain Commemorations (Gathering of Eagles) in Hobart 2019, and the  RAAF Centenary Celebrations in Canberra in 2021. In the photo below she is shown with Air Marshal Mel Hupfield, Chief of Air Force, with wife Louise (left).

Jenn wrote a fascinating story about her Father, Smokey Hibbens - The Habitual Escaper - Smokey Hibbens -by Jenny Hibbens.

We are grateful for Jenn's contribution to the Odd Bods, and pass on our commiserations to all who knew her.

Odd Bods Supporting Disabled Students In India - Latest Reports

 

Continuing a long Odd Bods tradition, we now support 4 disabled students at the Ryder Cheshire, Raphael Centre, in Northern India.

The centre is good enough to give us regular reports on the students and here are the most recent for Vaishnavi, Sarthak, Mohit, and Ishan.

D-Day Remembered - Odd Bods

 

As world leaders gather for ceremonies on the anniversary of D-Day, it is time to reflect on the contribution of Odd Bods. 

D-Day (6th June 1944) is heralded as the largest seaborne invasion in history and one of the most important campaigns towards the end of WW2. 

Aviators made a significant contribution towards the campaign known as Operation Overlord. Some 2,800 Australian airmen from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force provided crucial aerial support over Normandy during the landing and the battles that followed. On D–Day, 1,000 Australians served in the 10 RAAF squadrons that participated in the Allied invasion. A further 1,800 Australians who participated on D-Day were serving attached to RAF squadrons.

A number of our Odd Bods received special medals for their service in the Normandy campaign. The medals, often referred to as Operation Overlord Medals, were issued by the town of Caen on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the liberation in WW2.

A big thank you to Bryan Wilcockson for sending us the following photos from this year's D-Day commemorations in the UK.

Odd Bods In Special Operations

 

Have you ever wondered what the S.O.E reference on the Odd Bods banner stands for?

At Frank Sims funeral yesterday the eulogies included reference to Franks WW2 participation under the Special Operations Executive. The S.O.E was set up by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1940 to conduct espionage and sabotage in enemy held territories. Find out more here.

Frank flew in Sunderlands during the war and was involved in S.O.E sorties. Just one more aspect of an Odd Bod's amazing contribution during war service.

Vale Francis (Frank) A. Sims 419677

Odd Bod Frank Sims passed away on Saturday 25th May at the age of 100. Frank was a highly respected veteran with a lovely sense of humour, amazing fitness for his age, and a media darling as you will see below.

In WW2 Frank embarked from Australia on 27/9/1943, and trained in Canada before arriving in the UK. He was a Flying Officer, later to add Navigator to his credentials, and served in Ansons, Sunderlands, and Hudson's, although was most proficient in Sunderlands (he called them boats). His service included Coastal duties and the Persia and Iraq Command which was responsible for safeguarding oil supplies during the war.

Front row of the Odd Bods 2018 - (L-R) Bruce Waxman OAM, Peter Sculley AO, Frank Sims.

We believe Frank was our last WW2 veteran marcher on ANZAC Day when he took to the pavement in 2018, at the age of 94 and, as you can see in our photo (above), strode out like a recruit. You daren't get out of step when marching with Frank.

Frank featured in a number of media interviews and can still be found on an ABC TV interview - click here.

And then there were the newspaper photos, including at least one front page in the Herald-Sun.

Frank will be remembered with great fondness by the Odd Bods family. Like all Odd Bods, he made a very significant contribution to our way of life through his war service.

Our condolences to Frank's family and a special thank you to his Grandson, Huw Edwards, for liaising with us.

"Pressing on..... remembering"

Short Sunderland Aircraft

Funeral Report 5/6/24: It appears that Frank Sims wasn't just respected in the Odd Bods family but also in the wider community with a string of life achievements revealed in the eulogies at today's funeral. His family added some lovely touches to the ceremony including placing his medals, and service cap on his coffin (see photo below).

COMMENTS:

Michael Rossiter - You were a national treasure Frank and it was a pleasure to know you and march behind you. Condolences to the Sims family. (Facebook)

Anonymous - Thanks OddBods. Father-in-Law Frank deserves every bit of this, and more. Great fella.

Greg Smith - One of my favourite stories about Frank related to his fitness. He turned up at a memorial service and apologised for being a little late. "My round of golf took a little longer than I expected." ..... he was 93 years old.

Gillian Louth - Rest In Peace. (Facebook)

Victory In Europe Day Is A Special Occasion In The Odd Bods Calendar

Wing Commander Mike Oram presents the address.

 VE Day is a special day in the Odd Bods calendar and 8th May 2024 was no exception.

In 1957 the Odd Bods conducted the first VE Day service at the Shrine. In later years the RSL took over the service, but when the RSL withdrew in 2019, the Friends of the Odd Bods eagerly took up the responsibility.

VE Day commemorates the day back in 1945 when the war was called to an end, veterans pulled down the blackout curtains, and dared to dream of getting back home to loved ones. It is another opportunity for us to commemorate their contribution to our way of life.

A commemoration service was held today in the Inner Sanctum of the Melbourne Shrine at 11:00am. FOTOBAI members attended with Secretary Peter Randell reading The Ode, and Wing Commander Mike Oram presenting the address.

Thanks to Bruce Waxman and Sue Bennett for sending in our photographs.

Peter Randell presents The Ode.

The wreath in place in the Sanctum

 

Bruce Waxman lays the wreath.

Videos from ANZAC Day 2024

 

We have plenty of photos from ANZAC Day but videos add an extra dimension. Above is the coverage of the Odd Bods from the official ABC TV broadcast. 

What a fine looking bunch!

And below is a video taken near the Arts Centre.

Odd Bods Reunion ANZAC Day 2024

The reunion after todays march was held at Amora Hotel Richmond, the same place as last year, but in a  relaxed convivial environment in the main lounge. 

It was a great occasion with plenty of old hands catching up, some new faces joining in, and the usual rich discussion around veterans and events of WW2. We talked about aircraft technology, the dangers of being an air-gunner in the front or rear turret, and we examined log books and old photos. 

We had serious discussions, lighthearted discussions, and covered a broad range of subjects. Hopefully the following photos will give readers a feel for what was a lovely conclusion to a successful ANZAC Day.

Odd Bods ANZAC March 2024

 

Another ANZAC Day rolls around and the general consensus seems to be that this was a good one. The weather was kind, the march pretty much ontime, a good attendance by veterans families, and a strong contingent of Wesley students, all added up to a worthy and respectful acknowledgement of our veterans and the amazing contribution they have made to Australia.

Here is a selection of photographs from the march, and we will quickly follow up with photos from the reunion, and other items of interest from this important day. 

A big thank you to all who participated.