Odd Bods at Gallipoli

A Royal Navy, Henri Farman, tandem seated float plane, possibly from HMS Ark Royal, returning to its launching ramp. Contributed by Australian War Memorial Photo: Australian War Memorial

The famous Gallipoli landings of WW1 (1914-18) form an iconic part of Australia’s military history. The term “Odd Bods” emerged in WW2 (1939-45) to describe a large group of Australian aviators in Europe, but did Odd Bods actually exist at Gallipoli?

During WW2 Australian aviators who served in non-Australian squadrons (usually British) were called odd bodies, later shortened to “Odd Bods”. 

Aviation activities in WW1 were nothing like those of WW2. In WW1 there were fewer aircraft, they were slow, much less sophisticated, and their main task was reconnaissance. They did however occasionally drop bombs and the first aircraft carrier was devised in WW1 to service seaplanes during military maneuvers.

By contrast, Air Force involvement in WW2 was pivotal with Bomber Command being a large focus of war effort and expenditure by the allies. Over 10,000 Australians were involved.

Historian Hugh Dolan is the author of “36 Days - The Untold Story Behind the Gallipoli Landings” in which he exposes some of the mis-truths about Australia’s involvement in the landings during WW1.

Dolan - a former RAAF intelligence officer who directed allied aircrews on their missions during the second Gulf War - also brings to light the Royal Naval Air Service was far from an all-British affair. At least 26 Australians are believed to have served as either pilots or observers, including Captain Thomas Piper, who had been holidaying in England when war broke out.

Captain Thomas Piper

An aircrew observer aboard the Ark Royal - the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier - Piper flew numerous missions over the Gallipoli peninsula and was involved in an aerial assassination attempt on the German Kaiser when the Kaiser visited Gallipoli after the Anzac withdrawal.

The Australian aviators involved in the Royal Navy Air Service during WW1 were clearly Odd Bod forerunners and their participation in the Gallipoli campaign is another significant component in Australia’s military history.

The Friends of The Odd Bods Association has grown from a fledgling group of Australian odd bodies who searched for an identity when they returned to Australia in 1945. They wanted to create a social identity for their members as they recovered from the horrors of war, and ensure that the sacrifices made by so many comrades were not forgotten by future generations. 

The Association’s motto is “Pressing on… remembering”

References:

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6171147/wings-over-gallipoli-our-stealth-mission-revealed/

https://books.google.com.au/books/about/36_Days.html?id=Jk4cmwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(1914)

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C91376

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/LIB100042863