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.