Back in January we posted an article entitled "A Dog, A Cemetery, And An Odd Bod's Act Of Bravery". It featured Odd Bod Robert Baxter from Colac in Victoria.
Robert received the George Medal for outstanding bravery when his aircraft landed back in UK after a German raid, and burst into flames. At great personal risk, Robert saved a crewmember from the blaze, but sadly, died in an aircraft crash shortly after, and is buried at Selby in the UK.
The story came from FOTOBAI member Bryan Wilcockson, who resides in Selby and is a regular correspondent. Bryan will be visiting Robert Baxter's grave on ANZAC Day 2023 in what he describes as a "nich ceremony" to honour the ANZAC Spirit.
The other part of our article concerned a dog named Sam who was a regular visitor to the Selby cemetery. Sam received a Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for his duty as he and his owner placed flowers on the RAF and RAAF aircrew war graves each year.
Yesterday we received this news from Bryan - "I am sad to report that LAC Sam, who received the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct medal at Selby Abbey in December, passed away early this morning in his owners arms. The ‘Gate Guardian’ of our commonwealth war graves will be sadly missed."
Vale Sam.
POSTSCRIPT: Sam has been cremated and his ashes taken to Pocklington Airfield near York.
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