Walter's Wisdom
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
That Was The Sweetest Aeroplane
Our title was a quote from an American pilot who went on to say "Everyone should fly a Spitfire at least once." John Blyth flew Spitfires for photo reconnaissance during WWII. We won't tell you any more here because the video below won an honorable mention for short film making at the 2007 Sundance Festival and it tells a wonderful story - Just click on the photo and enjoy.
Thursday, 22 September 2016
The Battle of Britain 76th Anniversary Service
Battle of Britain 76th Anniversary - Held in the Sanctuary of The Shrine of Remembrance on Sunday 18th September this years service featured Guest Speaker, Wg/Cdr John Ward, Air Training Group, RAAF Williams, Laverton.
Thanks to Friends of the Odd Bods President, Bruce Waxman, for the photos.
Thanks to Friends of the Odd Bods President, Bruce Waxman, for the photos.
Sunday, 11 September 2016
Ryder Cheshire Fund Raiser & Christmas Cards
An Afternoon of Poetry, Music and Song will be this year's fund raising event for Ryder-Cheshire Victoria.
The event will be held at the RAAF Association rooms in Hawthorn East on Saturday 8th October from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Tickets are $25 each and bookings are essential. Contact Helen Newton on 9894 3191 or phnewton@bigpond.com.
Ryder-Cheshire Christmas cards will be available on the afternoon or through the above contacts.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Legion d'Honneur Recipient George Tulloch
Congratulations to George Tulloch, one of our latest recipients of the Legion d'Honneur.
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), is a French order established by Napolean Bonaparte on 19 May 1802. Napoleon believed France wanted a recognition of merit rather than a new system of nobility.
The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees of distinction. A number of Australian Airmen have received the honour in recognition of outstanding services in the liberation of France during the Second World War.
Stunning Colourised Photos From WW1
An unidentified member of the 69th Australian Squadron, later designated No. 3 Australian Flying Corps (AFC), fixing incendiary bombs to an R.E.8 aircraft at the AFC airfield north west of Arras. Savy, Nord Pas de Calais, 22nd, October 1917. The entire squadron was operating from Savy (near Arras) on 22 October 1917, having arrived there on 9 September after crossing the channel from the UK. 69 Squadron was temporarily attached to the RFC while they gained experience on the Arras front. They began moving to a more permanent base at Bailleul on 12 November, operating as a full Corps squadron attached to 1 Anzac Corps. The last AFC aircraft and personnel left Savy on 16 November 1917. (Source – Australian War Memorial’s collection – ID Number: E01176 – Maker: James ‘Frank’ Francis Hurley) (Colourised by Royston Leonard from the UK) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colourized-pictures-of-the-world-wars-and-other-periods-in-time/182158581977012
More WW1 photos are available here - WW1 Photos
Thanks to Terry Maher for the link.
The Last Post - On Violin
Simply click on the picture for a stirring video of this Last Post rendition. Violinist Rachel Bostock had the following to say about her video - 26/4/2016
"Having had our ANZAC Day commemorations and memorials this past Monday, I felt inspired to pay my own tribute to our brave ANZAC's, including both of my Great Grandfather's. Sadly, neither of them made it home. To those who served then and to those who serve now, I thank you. Here is my rendition of The Last Post."
Friends of Odd Bods Member Receives Award
John Eacott (right) receives Master Air Pilot Award |
"Before the Company was established in 1929, the future status of air pilots and air navigators was very much in doubt. The small group of commercial pilots who formed the "Guild" were virtually responsible for ensuring that their successors enjoyed a professional status, and one of the Company's objectives has been to foster and improve that standing. From the beginning the Company was modelled on the lines of the old City Guilds and Livery Companies and its constitution and by-laws reflect that foundation, although its activities and work is very much contemporary.
The Company became a Livery Company of the City of London in 1956: a rarely bestowed mark of distinction. This was a great factor in increasing not only the influence of the Company, the 81st Livery Company to be formed in 800 years, but of the entire profession of pilot and navigator in the United Kingdom and overseas.
In 2014, it received a further mark of distinction in being granted a Royal Charter in the name of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. HCAP is unique as the only London company with overseas regions."
FOB member, John Eacott, son of past Odd Bods President Walter Eacott, is a Liveryman of the Company (John is shown on the right in our photo).John was granted freedom of the City of London some years ago in keeping with other Liverymen. He is active with the Australian Region of the Honourable Company and has been Honorary Treasurer of the Australian Region for some time. John received a Master Air Pilot award in 2015.
In July this year John was advised that he has been awarded the Masters Trophy for the Australian Region "in recognition of your outstanding contribution to aviation in Australia and elsewhere and meritorious service to the Company." The award will be presented at a dinner in November. Congratulations John.
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
North Atlantic Aviation Museum
Committee Member, Gary
Elliott’s, recent overseas trip included a visit to the North Atlantic Aviation
Museum at Gander in Newfoundland. Gander was an important trans-Atlantic strategic
base in WWII. Thank you to Gary for these pictures.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
New Legion d'Honneur Recipients
George Tulloch and Ron Fitch have advised us that they have been awarded the French Legion d'Honneur with a presentation to take place soon.
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), is a French order established by Napolean Bonaparte on 19 May 1802. Napoleon believed France wanted a recognition of merit rather than a new system of nobility.
The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees of distinction. A number of Australian Airmen have received the honour in recognition of outstanding services in the liberation of France during the Second World War.
Our congratulations go out to all the following Odd Bods who have received the honour. If we have missed any names, please let us know.
George Smith 2005
Ron Cleaver 2015
Norm Goyen 2015
Don Howard 2015
Laurie Larmer 2015
David Morland 2015
Ron Pitt 2015
Bert Tinning 2015
Gerald McPherson 2015
Keith Schmerl 2015
George Tulloch 2016
Ron Fitch 2016
The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees of distinction. A number of Australian Airmen have received the honour in recognition of outstanding services in the liberation of France during the Second World War.
Our congratulations go out to all the following Odd Bods who have received the honour. If we have missed any names, please let us know.
George Smith 2005
Ron Cleaver 2015
Norm Goyen 2015
Don Howard 2015
Laurie Larmer 2015
David Morland 2015
Ron Pitt 2015
Bert Tinning 2015
Gerald McPherson 2015
Keith Schmerl 2015
George Tulloch 2016
Ron Fitch 2016
Field of Poppies Remembers The Somme
The centenary of the WW1 Battle of the Somme (1916-2016) was recently marked by a number of events around the globe.Our photo was kindly supplied by our UK correspondent Bryan Wilcockson as he recorded part of the 19,240 poppies installed by Royal British Legion on North Green outside Westminster Abbey in London.
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Betty’s Tea Room Receives A Visit From A Genuine WW2 Veteran
Inspired by the art decor elegance of the
original Queen Mary, the iconic Betty’s Tea Room in York is a famous landmark
and our own Walter Eacott visited recently.
A few years after Bettys opened its doors in
York war broke out, and Bettys – in particular the basement 'Bettys Bar' –
became a favourite haunt of thousands of airmen stationed around York.
'Bettys Mirror', on
which many of them engraved their signatures with a diamond pen, remains on
display today as a fitting tribute to their bravery.
Our picture shows Walter standing outside
Betty’s with his step-brother, Clive Eacott. More information on Betty’s Tea
Room and the connection with WW2 airmen can be found here. - https://blogs.unb.ca/greggcentre/2013/09/13/world-war-ii-airmen-and-the-cafe-tea-room/
Friday, 1 July 2016
What To Do With War Time Memorabilia
As the years march on, the amount of memorabilia that needs to find a suitable home increases. The committee has received requests from members on what families should do with a variety of items including log books and service medals.
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) has had to overhaul its donation collection process in a bid to cope with the large volume of items it receives. On average about 40,000 items are donated to the AWM each year but about half do not meet the required selection criteria. Head of collection services retired Major General Brian Dawson recently said while each item was significant to the individual serviceman or woman, the AWM had to focus on collecting items of national significance.
The new procedure involves people completing an online questionnaire which allows the museum to conduct a controlled assessment of suitable items. Hopefully this will stop the unusual but rather dangerous practice of people turning up at the front counter with weapons. It should be noted that only 5% of all donations get to be exhibited at any one time.
At FOB meetings we have discussed the need to keep certain items for perpetuity as important reminders of national, community, and family involvement in our history. And it is the family connection that will often determine the right course of action. Service medals and log books are important items that can be kept within families. Odd Bods founder George Smith nominated that his medals and log book would be handed on to the first born of each generation and that path has been set.
Other suggestions for the handling of memorabilia include the possibility of setting up a special location for the display of Air Force memorabilia, perhaps through government funding, or an educational institution. In the meantime, individual family arrangements appear to be the suitable course of action.
We welcome the thoughts and proposals of readers on how we might handle memorabilia in the future.
Smoky Hibbens - The Habitual Escaper
FOB committee member, Jenny Hibbens has sent us this fascinating tale of her Father.
Sgt
Vivian Joseph HIBBENS (Smoky) RAAF SN: 400712
The
Habitual Escaper
Vivian Joseph Hibbens was born in Bemboka NSW on 16th
January 1922. His parents were Herbert Ernest Mingus Hibbens and Ethel Cecilia
(nee: Pritchard). He had one younger sister, Norma Pearl.
In 1938 he was given a 17 hands high race horse which
could no longer race. He promptly went out and enlisted in the 8th
Light Horse - telling a white lie about his age to be
eligible - being rather patriotic he chose the 26th January 1917 as
his birth date.
He enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force on 13th
October 1940 in Melbourne. At the time he was employed as a Bank Officer with
the Commonwealth Bank.
After his initial air training under the Empire Air
Training Scheme at 5 Elementary Flying Training School at Narromine NSW - he
was shipped to Canada where he gained his wings at Camp Borden Ontario. He then
sailed to the UK and undertook Spitfire Training at Hawarden Wales and was attached to the 234 Squadron at Ibsley in
Hampshire. After gaining his endorsement on Spitfires – he flew a few volunteer
night sorties over France. Whilst here, his mother sent him a Koala mascot - whom
he named ‘Anzac’.
In April 1942 he was posted to service in the Middle-East
to fly Spitfires with the 145 Squadron RAF, travelling via Sierra Leone. After
completing only eight operational sorties with his squadron, he was detailed to
transport a Hawker Hurricane fighter to 33 Squadron RAF, at Landing Ground 154
near Alexandria during the First Battle of El Alamein, on 18 July 1942. He
encountered a sandstorm, turned to the east to avoid it, and was then blown off
course by wind and attacked by 13 German Me109 fighter aircraft. His aircraft
was badly damaged and running out of fuel when he crashed close to German tanks
near the El Alamein front line - but not before he shot down two of the German fighters. His only injury was a
bayonet wound to his right arm, sustained from an over jealous German. He took his mascot Anzac with him as he left
the aircraft. He was taken via the usual route via Mersa Matruh on the coast
for interrogation, then to Dulag Luft at Frankfurt in cells for a week before
being transported to the largest POW camp the Germans had - Stalag 8B at
Lamsdorf Poland. This was the only POW
Camp in WWII where all the Australian Airmen were housed together in three
barracks. There were 84 of them. He became POW No. 25096.
Being a country boy, he found the life in the POW camp
boring as an RAAF Officer. The captured allied airmen were not permitted to go
out on the working parties as the Germans accorded them the same respect as
they did their Luftwaffe - whom they considered the elite of their forces. They
were not for trivial manual labour. He was delighted when he was appointed the
‘Camp Librarian’ – only to discover that the books rarely came back. Those that
did had most of the pages torn out by the borrowers to be used as toilet paper.
Apparently the newly arrived in camp were given this dubious position as a bit
of a joke. He also earned the nick name of Smoky - for his battering with
cigarettes for food - this name stayed with him for the rest of his life.
When the British and the Germans agree to repatriate and
swap sick and wounded POWs – Anzac was smuggled to a man being sent back to
England with the message that “the owner is alive and well in Stalag 8B - send
this message to his mother”. Unfortunately the POW could not remember who owned
Anzac - except that it belonged to an RAAF man. Anzac was placed behind
Reception at RAAF House in London. One day someone who knew him recognised the
Koala . . . “That is Viv Hibbens’ Koala”. Anzac was reunited with his owner at
the end of the war.
He attempted several escapes from within the confines of
the camp – all were quickly thwarted. He would do his time in ‘the hole’ and then
would try again. Realising that this was all futile - he then signed up to
become part of the ‘Swap-Over’ group.
During an interview with Ron Wall in late December 2007
(also a RAAF POW in Stalag 8B) he is quoted as saying when asked if he
remembered him “Oh yes. He was a quiet man. But he was never there – he was
always out escaping. He would get caught and brought back and then he would
turn right around and do it again. We got used to not seeing him.”
First, he became Private Stanley Francis Weir from the
New Zealand Army (POW No. 5239). He apparently made 6 unsuccessful bids of
escape during this time from the working party at the Tichlau paper factory – but none of them
were documented. Later, from 15th September 1944 as Private Douglas
William Simpson (POW No. 8033) from the Australian 2/2 Battalion, he made three
unsuccessful bids for freedom. The first attempt was on the 12th November 1944 –
he broke out of camp and joined a working Commando at Oberglau (a beet factory
40 kms south of POW camp), 16 kilometres west of the Oder. He attempted to
cross the Oder to join the Russians. He was free for 13 days, getting food from
farmers and picking up some on the wayside. He was eventually picked up by the
German S.S. Front Line Patrol, and sent back to the working party.
His second attempt was on 16th December 1944
where he again broke away from the Working Party near the town of Frapatz, was
on the run for 10 days – once again being picked up and returned to the Working
Party.
Again on January 3rd 1945 near Frapatz he
escaped again and was on the run for 9 days until being picked up and returned
to the Working Party.
When the orders came through to March out the Prisoners
from Stalag 8B on 22nd January 1945 - he was still with the working
party. The real Private Simpson, who was still acting as Sgt Hibbens, decided
marching off in the cold was not a good option - so he went back to the Army
enclosure and was later taken out by cattle car.
His final and successful bid for freedom was on the Death
March around 21st April 1945. Some of the other POWs on the Death March who had also
escaped, were picked up by the Czech Partisans. They asked the Partisans to go out
and find him. He was found huddled under a bush where he had been sleeping and
he was taken to a small town called Kdyne in the SE of Czechoslovakia where he
was hidden in the basement of a Delicatessen shop. This tiny town had hidden
around 400 escaped POWs - which was incredibly brave, since if any had been
discovered by the Germans - whole families would have been shot. When he heard
that the Americans were on their way - he headed off to meet them on the 4th
May to join up with the 9th Infantry Regiment of General Patton’s
Army.
In a letter written from Kdyne on 7th May 1945
- he talked about playing cards with an escaped Canadian and two Czech girls .
. . “none of us can speak the other’s
language - but we are managing to have fun. The whole town is draped in
decorations and flags and flowers adorn the US Army tanks and Jeeps”. The
Americans kept him with them to act as Interpreter to the M.63 Signals Air
Corps. He went with them into Prague and then on to Berlin. In mid-May they
endeavoured to send him home - but not before he kept his promise to his mother
that at the end of the war he would “see the sites of Europe”. He went on to
Belgium and then Paris and eventually was repatriated back to England on 16th May 1945. He was the last man home of the RAAF POWs in Stalag 8B.
Smoky was a staunch RSL man all his life, leading the
local Marches on Anzac Day and Memorial Day each year. He became a member of
the Odd Bods UK - NSW Branch until his untimely death at the age of 50 in 1972
from a heart condition which his doctors believed was a result of his time as a
POW and the Death March.
Anzac’s flying days did not end with the war. Smoky’s
daughter, Jennifer, took him with her during her flying training in the late
60s and early 70s. Sadly, by that stage he had no fur left and had been sewn up
after having been ‘examined’ by the Germans. He is now housed at the
Australian War Memorial along with hundreds of letters and other war
memorabilia which his mother had diligently saved.
Monday, 23 May 2016
Stunning Spitfire Photos
For a comprehensive gallery of some of the most stunning contemporary photos of Spitfires in flight the following website is worth a visit. - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3598540/The-Photographer-captures-pin-sharp-images-final-55-airworthy-Spitfires-using-just-handheld-camera.html
Photographer John Dibbs spent years hanging out of fighter planes with a hand held camera to capture these iconic shots. He has published a book, "Spitfire - The Legend Lives On" through Osprey. Dibbs said - 'There is no finer compliment than to have one tell me I have captured the spirit of the Spitfire in my photographs'
Thank you to Peter Randell andKen Broomhead for passing on the link. Now where are my flying goggles?
Sunday, 8 May 2016
VE Day 2016 At The Shrine of Remembrance
Friends of the Odd Bods carried out the traditional Victory in Europe Day commemoration at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne today. Veterans enjoyed the solemn and beautiful setting of the Sanctuary and the outside gardens as they paid tribute to their comrades.
Terry Maher officiates with Squadron Leader Ron Leddingham(Ret'd), outgoing Governor of the Shrine in front of the Odd Bods banner. |
Jack Elliott, a welcome appearance from Wing Commander Peter Isaacson AM, DFC, AFC, DFM, RAAF, and Doug Parry who read the Ode. |
The wreath in front of the Odd Bods tree. |
Our two guardians. |
Friday, 6 May 2016
Wanted - 464 Squadron Logo
Tess Egan would like to have a 464 Squadron logo engraved on her father's headstone. John Francis Rayner 434545 was a Fl.Lt. with Squadron 464 and he passed away on 15th July 2015.
Tess's problem is that she doesn't want just any logo. It needs to be a high quality graphic of the 464 logo for the engraving process to be successful. Graphics available on the web are usually photos of cloth or metal badges and don't have the necessary clarity.
If you think you might be able to help please contact us via email (gregandsuesmith@iinet.net.au) or by telephone to Greg Smith 0406222020.
Tess's problem is that she doesn't want just any logo. It needs to be a high quality graphic of the 464 logo for the engraving process to be successful. Graphics available on the web are usually photos of cloth or metal badges and don't have the necessary clarity.
If you think you might be able to help please contact us via email (gregandsuesmith@iinet.net.au) or by telephone to Greg Smith 0406222020.
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
An Invitation to the FOB Annual General Meeting
The AGM of Friends of the Odd Bods Association Inc. is coming up on
Sunday 22nd May at 1400hrs and you are welcome to attend.
All current committee
members have made themselves available for re-election however if you are
interested in nominating for a position on the committee, nominations may be
made in advance by contacting Peter Randell (peter.randell5@gmail.com).
We are keen to seek the
involvement of more members, so if you are available it would be great to see
you there. If you can’t make it but believe you can contribute in some other way, please let us know.
A copy of the
agenda is shown below.
A member may appoint another member as a proxy for the meeting and you do that
by completing a proxy form. Just click on the tab at the top of this page marked "AGM Proxy" and print it out.
Friends of The Odd Bods Association Inc.
Annual General Meeting
Meeting Date: Sunday, May 22nd at 2:00pm
At Malvern East RSL, Stanley Grose Drive, Malvern east
A G E N D A
1. Opening and Ode
2. Present
3. Apologies
4. Previous Minutes
5. Business Arising
5.1 Election of Office Bearers
5.2 Newsletter/Website
5.2 Linkages to Other Organisations/Events
5.3 Annual Fees
5.4 Membership
6. Treasurer’s Statement
7. Activities Statement
8. New Business
9. Meeting Close
Date And Time Of Next Meeting
Thursday, 28 April 2016
VE Day - Sunday May 8th
Victory in Europe Day marked the end of WWII in Europe and was celebrated across the globe on the day that the German surrender was signed in Berlin - 8th May 1945.
The day was particularly significant to many Odd Bods and each year we mark the occasion with a service at The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. A short service will be held at the Odd Bods tree adjacent to the Shrine commencing at 11:00am on Sunday 8th May 2016. All are welcome.
The day was particularly significant to many Odd Bods and each year we mark the occasion with a service at The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. A short service will be held at the Odd Bods tree adjacent to the Shrine commencing at 11:00am on Sunday 8th May 2016. All are welcome.
Odd Bods Tree. |
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
ANZAC Day - More Photos
Our patron AVM Peter Scully (Retired) presents to the luncheon complete with Odd Bods hat produced especially for ANZAC Day. |
Walter Eacott pays tribute to George Smith. |
Sue Parry manages to get the bus up close and handy once again and explains to the impatient traffic wardens that 90+ year veterans just couldn't walk any further. |
And of course no Odd Bods luncheon would be complete without Walter Eacott's brilliant one-liners, and carefully teased out jokes. |
The Matta girls proudly support our banner. |
A wreath is about to be laid at the Odd Bods tree in the grounds of the Shrine of Remembrance. |
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