New Book Relevant To Odd Bods

FOTOBAI member, Fay McPherson, got in touch with us recently concerning a new book about 186 Squadron. Fay's husband Gerald McPherson flew in 186 Squadron and Fay was asked to write a foreword for the book which has now been published.

The book is titled "Target Germany 186 Squadron 1944- 1945" by Steve C. Smith. Steve writes in his preface - “This is the history of a single squadron that played a pivotal role in destroying Germany’s oil and transport facilities.  Each member of the squadron can be justly proud, as can their relatives.  Their story is one of heroics and perseverance in getting the job done.” 

Here is the book summary on Amazon.com -

"Formed in October 1944 in No.3 Group RAF Bomber Command, No.186 Squadron was pitched immediately into the relentless bomber offensive from its formation. Initially established with the help of No.90 Squadron, the new squadron would be equipped with the excellent Avro Lancaster.

From the very outset, the squadron was staffed by the very best crews that No.3 Group could offer. This included its commander officer, Wing Commander Giles DSO DFC. Under his leadership, the squadron quickly earned a reputation as reliable and highly motivated. This was not surprising given its Commanding Officer, handpicked flight commanders, and many second tour crews. The squadron would play a pivotal role in the destruction of Germany's important transportation and oil facilities over the last seven months of WW2. Sadly, this success came with a price in young lives. By May 8th, 1945, the squadron had flown 871 sorties. Target Germany combines the operational history of the squadron with individual stories from those who served, with numerous never before published photographs. This is a long-overdue book on a forgotten squadron."

The book was released in June 2022, and according to the Amazon website is currently out of stock. We assume it will become available for those interested.

Odd Bods, The Queen, Spitfires & Hurricanes

 

It was a long held practice at events and functions of the The Odd Bods Association to toast Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Many veterans felt a close association with royalty through service on RAF and RAAF squadrons in WWII. 

Princess Elizabeth insisted on joining the women’s branch of the Army as soon as she turned 18 in 1944, and was in a similar age group to many Odd Bods. She has been described as Britain’s rock from WWII to the pandemic.

At this year’s Battle of Britain Airshow at Duxford some 20 Spitfires and Hurricanes from WWII took part in a special tribute to Her Majesty following her recent passing. Click on the photo below for a video coverage of the event and enjoy the wonderful footage of these surviving fighter aircraft including take-off, landing, formation flying, and aerobatics.

"God Save The Queen"

Odd Bods Increase Support To Ryder Cheshire School India

 

Over recent years Friends of the Odd Bods have maintained a tradition of supporting three students at Raphael, the Ryder Cheshire School at Dehradun, Northern India - Asma, Sarthak Belwal and Abbas Hussain Zaidi. 

In 2022 we commenced supporting an additional student, Ishant Rawat. Following are reports from the school on Asma, Sarthak and Abbas. We expect to receive a report on Ishant in due course.

Film Of Dunsfold WW2 Bomber Activity Discovered

A film has recently surfaced from English archives showing activities of B25 Medium Bombers at Dunsfold Airfield towards the end of WW2.

Dunsfold was home to 180 Squadron, an RAAF squadron of a number of Odd Bods including founder and long time Secretary, George Smith. The Uncle of our current President, Bruce Waxman, was a pilot on 98 Squadron at Dunsfold and subsequently KIA in 1944 over Arnhem. 

The film depicts airfield activities including bomb loading, aircraft take-off and landing, aircraft servicing, and shows a number of Australian and NZ aviators. 

If you recognise anybody in the film we would love to hear from you.

Ballarat Aviation Museum

FOTOBAI Vice-President and Secretary, Peter Randell, recently sent us some photos from the Ballarat Aviation Museum and it looks like this location should be on all our visit lists. 

The Ballarat Aviation Museum houses a collection of aviation memorabilia, relating to the use of the Ballarat aerodrome as a RAAF base in World War 2. The museum contains static displays including aircraft in various states of repair, and is open Saturdays, Sundays, and most public holidays.

 

Spirit Of ANZAC - Two Great Essays

Each year since 2016 the Friends of the Odd Bods Association has awarded a prize for the best essay by a Wesley College student about the Spirit of ANZAC. The George V. Smith Award has enabled our association to focus on the Spirit of ANZAC as a key ingredient in Australian culture. 

A recent article on the Australian War Memorial  website and the surfacing of an essay from this years crop of submissions from students at Wesley has presented two excellent discussions on the Spirit of ANZAC.

"We were lucky, very lucky"

"We were lucky, very lucky" -  is an article on the Australian War Memorial website, written by Claire Hunter (thank you Claire), about Vietnam veteran Mike Ruffin. Mike received the Medal of The Order of Australia for his service to the SAS, and was a speaker at this year's dawn service at the AWM. His story is a harrowing account of war service and he talks about the importance of mateship ("Mateship means absolutely everything.") and the significance of ANZAC Day. 

The full article can be found here - "We were lucky, very lucky".

"If Australia is good enough to live in, it is good enough to fight for."

Wesley Student Essay - this years George V. Smith Award for the best essay about the Spirit of ANZAC was presented to a very worthy student author in Khushi Deol (see article and essay in following articles). But there were many student essays and another has come to attention for a unique perspective on the Spirit of ANZAC that you may not have considered before. It concerns the contribution by Chinese ANZACs, the rascim they faced, and their indomitable determination to fight for Australia. Here is the essay - 

Creative writing- World War I Research Task

August 1917

Dear son,

How is the battle going? I miss you everyday with concerns of your safety.

Your brother has told me that 213 other Chinese ANZACs like you have enlisted for this bloody war, and I am troubled for them as if they were my own sons, for how the military is treating them. And here I thought that the Immigration Restriction Act 1901 excluded our people, but they have released further legislations to restrain even the right to defend for your own country.

Despite the country's racism and discrimination, I am proud of you for making it through military training and finally be able to fight for the ANZACs. The Defence Act 1909 denies people 'not substantially of European origin' of enlistment. It was during your childhood that they released this law, but where their idea of exclusion and 'appropriate defence system for Australia' should have left you empty of loyalty, your naivety and courage has increased your sense of nationalism.

Regardless of my own conflicts with the current bureaucracy, I am continuously in encouragement of your thirst for justice, freedom, and peace. There are many others like you who wish to directly contribute on the warfront, however, were denied service. The community is taking out war loans to fund for war efforts on the homefront. That is how much they value fighting for their country. You are considered lucky to have passed the medical examination, where the medical certificate published you 'fit for active service', however, your brother's fate was unfortunate.

Two months after you had gone away to fight for the Australian Imperial Force, your brother was denied enlistment by a medical officer because he was 'not substantially of European origin'. He signed the attestation paper and answered the questions appropriately, stating that he is an Australian and was born in the country. The Defence Act 1909, preventing people 'not substantially of European origin or descent' to enlist in wartime, is no different from the Immigration Act of 1901 when they excluded specific nationalities. In the 1850s, in the goldrush fields, they feared we would 'outnumber the adult male population and lower the living standards of the white working class'. I have heard that the expeditionary forces on the battlefield excluded Chinese ANZACs, hence why I am so worried for what else they are excluding you from, which you rightfully deserve. 

It breaks my heart you anglicised your name so that they could accept you. Australia is your only home, and you deserve appreciation of your identity just as much as your fellow diggers. I admire your spirit to fight and defend for this country, but this poor treatment and racism cannot go on. Chinese ANZACs Samuel John and Hedley David Tong Way served as sappers in the 3rd Division Signal Company in WWI. They signed up for gallant and selfless acts of service on the warfront and are sent off to repair communication lines nowhere near battle. The Langtip family that I am close with has had their 6 sons volunteer as enlistees, but two were turned away because they were from the same family. I am in disbelief of the logic of these medical officers. There are others I have heard whom received Distinguished Conduct Medals and the Bar and Military Medal but fought with strain to achieve recognition. You may know these heroic diggers- Caleb James Shang and William Edward Sing. Of the soldiers that ever returned home, only 19 Chinese Australians have received bravery medals. Not all Chinese diggers received the medal that they deserved for their contributions. When  you come home, just know that I am so ever proud of you for every contribution you have made for this country.

You once told me that 'if Australia is good enough to live in, it is good enough to fight for'. I hope this is still true in your case. The current conditions they put our family through is becoming too harsh for me to bear. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 is a policy denying residents with Chinese origin of being naturalised as British subjects. Our family has lived in this country for over 70 years, but I am still unable to be naturalised as a resident in the country. You might be familiar that a consequence of the war is that residents who are not naturalised or born in Australia are deemed as 'aliens' by the government. One month after your brother was denied enlistment I was registered as an alien. Soon I will have to register at the police for national security reasons, to which I respond in low spirits.  

I pray your experiences differ to mine, and that you are fighting well, healthily, and strongly for Australia.

Please, take care of yourself out there, I longingly wait for your return.

Mary Tong Way

References:

Chinese Museum (2021) Benjamin Moy Ling [Retrieved on April 1st 2022]  https://www.chinesemuseum.com.au/beniamin-moy-linq 

Chinese Museum (2021) Caleb and Sidney Shang [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.chinesemuseum.com.au/caleb-and-sidney-shang

Chinese Museum 2021 Chinese ANZACs [Retrieved on_April 1st 2022]

Chinese Museum (2021) Langtip brothers [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.chinesemuseum.com.au/langtip-brothers

Chinese Museum (2021) Lepp cousins [Retrieved on April 1 st 2022]  https://www.chinesemuseum.com.au/lepp-cousins

Fang Jason et al (2019) ANZAC Day 2019: Historic racism hides the true extent of Chinese soldiers' legacy, historian says [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-0425/chinese-soldiers-reflect-on-forgotten-anzac-history/11037594

History Teacher's Association of Victoria et al (2015) Chinese ANZACs [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] htt s: cv.vic. ov.au media 1289 chinese-anzacs-ed-kit. df

National Archives of Australia (n.d.) Chinese-Australian brothers enlist twice in World War I [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] htt s: www.naa. ov.au learn learnin -resources learning-resource  themes/war/world-war-i/chinese-australian-brothers-enlist-twice-world-war-i

 National Archives of Australia (n.d.) Chinese-Australian serviceman- attestation form [Retrieved on April 1 st 2022] https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resourcesllearning-resourcethemes/war/world-war-i/chinese-australian-serviceman-attestation-form

National Archives of Australia (n.d.) Chinese-Australian serviceman has 'Advance Australia' tattoo [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resourcethemes/war/world-war-i/chinese-australian-serviceman-has-advance-australia-tattoo

National Archives of Australia (n.d.) 'Exemptions from personal service'- Defence Act 1909 [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resourcethemes/war/world-war-i/exemptions-personal-service-defence-act-1909

National Archives of Australia (n.d.) Mother enquiring about welfare of soldier son [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learninq-resourcethemes/war/world-war-i/mother-enquiring-about„welfare-soldier-son

National Archives of Australia (n.d.) World War l: Chinese ANZACs [Retrieved on April 1st 2022] https://www.naa.gov.a u/learn/learning-resources/learninq-resource-themes/war/world-wa ri world-war-i-chinese-anzacs

VE Day 2022 The Shrine Melbourne

Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945.

A service remembering Victory in Europe Day was held on the forecourt of The Shrine, Melbourne at 4:45pm Sunday 8th May 2022.

Friends of the Odd Bods Committee Members, Jan Dimmick and Jenny Hibbens represented the Friends of the Odd Bods Association, with Jenny reading the Ode, and Jenny and Jan laying a wreath at the perpetual flame.

A video of the service commencing with the wreath laying may be found by clicking here - VE Day Service Wreath Laying and Ode.

A video of the full service may be found here - VE Day Service Melbourne Shrine

Lancaster Flypast for Les Knight Memorial 2022

Les Knight was an Australian Lancaster Pilot in RAF 617 Squadron during WW2 and his brave flying feats have been etched in bomber history particularly for the residents of a small Dutch village.

In September 1943 Knight was piloting a stricken Lancaster near Den Ham. He managed to keep the aircraft high enough for the crew to bail out and to avoid the village below. The crew and the residents survived but Knight’s aircraft crash landed and he was killed.

A memorial has been built outside the village and an active group of residents continue to promote the memory of this brave act. On 4th May this year one of only two still flying Lancasters set out from the UK to fly over a number of WW2 commemorative sites in Belgium and the Netherlands including Den Ham.

The video below shows the locals assembling near the memorial and the actual flypast.

We recommend you also check out this facebook page for some amazing footage of the aircraft - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Les.Knight.DSO/

 

George V. Smith Award At Wesley College 2022 In Pictures

 

28/4/2022 - Wesley College, Glen Waverley Campus, and the traditional ANZAC Service takes place in the Senior School Prest Quadrangle. A feature of the service was the presentation of  the annual George V. Smith Award for the best essay by a Wesley Student about the Spirit of ANZAC. 

The winning essay can be found in the following article.

                             

    Khushi Deol receives her award.                    FOTOBAI member, Greg Smith, addresses the assembly.

L-R Wesley Head of Campus Sheriden Vella, Jenny Hibbens, President FOTOBAI Bruce Waxman OAM, Student Khushi Deol, Greg Smith, Jan Dimmick, Suzanne Smith.

Special guests including FOTOBAI members seated adjacent to the stage.

L-R Head of Campus Sheriden Vella, President FOTOBAI Bruce Waxman OAM, Student Khushi Deol, Greg Smith, Gary Elliott.

George V. Smith Award Presented At Wesley College 2022

L-R Wesley Head of Campus Sheriden Vella, Jenny Hibbens, Bruce Waxman OAM, Student Khushi Deol, Greg Smith, Jan Dimmick, Suzanne Smith

George V. Smith

The George V. Smith Award is an award made in the name of Odd Bod co-founder and long time official, George Smith, who championed a relationship with Wesley College, Glen Waverley Campus from 2008. The award is made for the best student essay about the ANZAC Spirit and is a key part of the strong and productive connection between Wesley and Friends of the Odd Bods Association. 

The award is open to students from years 9 to 12 at Wesley and offers a $500 book voucher to the writer of the winning essay. The voucher is jointly funded by George Smith's family and Friends of the Odd Bods.

This years winner is Year 9 student Khushi Deol who writes about an inspiring Australian Nurse who served in WW1 and proved that it wasn't just frontline soldiers who displayed true qualities of the ANZAC Spirit. Kushi was presented with her award during a ceremony at the Wesley College Glen Waverley campus on Thursday 28th April. 

Here is Khushi's essay:-

ANZAC Spirit Essay

My specific essay question:

 What did Alice Ross-King do during and after WWI to display Anzac spirit?

 

“No one who came in contact with Major Appleford could fail to recognize her as a leader of women. Her sense of duty, her sterling solidity of character, her humanity, sincerity, and kindliness of heart set for others a very high example.” [1] Anzac Centenary 2015. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was made up from more than just the soldiers, nurses like Sister Alice Appleford (nee Ross-King) were the backbone of the war. The Anzac Spirit, a powerful feeling that Anzacs gain from war, is a famous Australian legend. Ex-soldiers are seen as the embodiment of it, but what about the supporting roles? Alice Ross-King showed the qualities of an Australian leader and should be seen as the embodiment of the Anzac Spirit.

For Sister Ross-King to be the embodiment of the famous Spirit, people have to know what it is and she has to fulfil the requirements. So, what is the Anzac spirit? [6] Burke, A 2015 states that it is an intangible, “powerful driving sensation” that Australians and New Zealanders obtain from the war. Qualities like “endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship” [2] Australian War Memorial 2017 are ones that Alice Ross-King and many others who served in WW1 showcase. The term, ‘many others’, is used instead of ‘many other soldiers’ because the men in the trenches are not the only ones who displayed the Anzac spirit. The navy, air force and army are viewed as the face of the war, more than 3 000 Australian women served in the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps, yet they are hardly recognized for their participation. [1] Anzac Centenary 2015 [5] Bell, R 2015. Alice Ross-King exhibited many qualities of the Anzac spirit during the first world war that leads us to not only believe the Anzac spirit is real but displays a perfect embodiment of it.

Alice Ross-King lived inspiring life. Born in Ballarat, Victoria, 1887, she was still young when she moved to Perth and her father and two brothers drowned in an accident in Swan River. Alice enlisted into the Australian Army nursing service in November 1914 and in 1915, was sent to Egypt and the Suez to work in hospitals and hospital transport ships [3] Australian War Memorial 2020. Early 1916, Alice moved to France to serve with No. 1 Australian General Hospital, stationary hospitals and later, No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station (2CCS). Here, she was attacked by German aircraft, Source 2, describes the bombing she faced. Alice’s bravery was awarded with the military medal [12] ‘SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE’ 1918 for her actions during this attack. Despite this scarring event, Alice continued to serve as a nurse and in the 1930s, she was trained in the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD), which is nursing work and stations to help her country [1] Anzac Centenary 2015. She died on 17 August 1968, a proud Australian woman.

Throughout the attack on the 22^nd of July 1917, Sister Ross-King demonstrated all the gifts of the Anzac spirit. Endurance is seen through Alice’s persistence, the “Theatre” was locked, Alice needed to get herself and her patients inside to safety. No one could hear her as she kept trying to get their attention, and with great endurance, kept going and helped got the patient tent up. Courage was shown when she ran after Wilson, her patient, as bombs fell around her. Nurse Ross-King always put other’s safety before her own, even if got her killed. Ingenuity was displayed when in chaos, Alice thought of using a stretcher to from the patients’ tent/marquee up in order to get to/retrieve the patients trapped underneath the collapsed tent. [11] Ross-King, A 1917 Good humour is present occasionally in Alice Ross-King’s diary entries and in recounts from people she has encountered. Though there is no solid article on it, I can assume that Alice Ross-King had good humour. War veterans need something light-hearted to help get them past their trauma. Finally, mateship was shown constantly throughout Source 2 as fellow soldiers, generals, even the cook exchanged messages and conversation throughout the attack, Alice must have been important and friendly to them for them to acknowledge her in midst of the bombing. [11] Ross-King, A. 1917

Most of all, Alice Ross-King showed devotion and bravery throughout her life. She was blown off her feet into a pit of “grease and blood”, only to get up for the sake of her patients. She continued to serve the army after she won war awards, like the Florence Nightingale medal in 1949, and she motivates thousands of Australians to also use and show their Anzac spirit qualities. Alice Ross-King is considered the “Front-Line angel” [5] Bell, R 2015 and her actions and achievements prove that she is a prime example of the Anzac Spirit.

 

REFERENCES:

-        [1] Anzac Centenary 2015, ALICE ROSS-KING: HUMANITY, SINCERITY, KINDLINESS, viewed 22 March 2022, http://anzaccentenary.archive.vic.gov.au/alice-ross-king-humanity-sincerity-kindliness-heart/index.html

-        [2] Australian War Memorial 2017, Anzac Spirit, viewed 22 March 2022, https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac/spirit

-        [3] Australian War Memorial 2020, Major Alice Ross-King, viewed 1 April 2022, https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac/spirit

-        [4] Baker, C 2020, Air raid hits 11th Casualty Clearing Station 7 July 1917, Sydney, viewed 20 March 2022, https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/air-raid-hits-11th-casualty-clearing-station-7-july-1917/

-        [5] Bell, R 2015, Casualty Clearance, viewed 30 March 2022, https://anzacday.org.au/ww1-casualty-clearance

-        [6] Burke, A 2015, The Spirit of ANZAC, Anzac Day Commemoration Committee website, viewed 1 April 2022, https://anzacday.org.au/spirit-of-anzac

-        [7] DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2022), Roles of Australian women in World War I, DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 21 March 2022, https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/personnel/australian-women

-        [8] Finnie, L.M. (2006). Ross-King, Alice (1887–1968). https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rossking-alice-8276

-        [9] Jones, F. (2020). Alice (Alys) ROSS - KING MM, RRC, MiD, Florence Nightingale Medal. https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/173405

-        [10] Ross-King, A. (1917, August 9). Transcript of diaries of Alice Ross-King, 1915-1919. Australian War Memorial. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG0000976/large/6021629.JPG

-        [11] Ross-King, A 1917, Transcript of diaries of Alice Ross-King, 1915-1919, Australian War Memorial, viewed 23 March 2022, https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG0000976/large/6021632.JPG

-        [12] ‘SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE’ 1918, London Gazette 31 May, p. 6475. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30716/supplement/6475

ANZAC Day 2022 From Our Members

We received a number of photos on ANZAC Day and we would like to thank contributors. 

From FOTOBAI member June Smith - "Best wishes to Odd Bods on ANZAC Day.   This photograph is from Sorrento. These two small children stood absolutely still through a long service and watched everything that happened.  It’s wonderful to see children absorbing the meaning of ANZAC.  Regards from June Smith" 25/4/2022.

Michael and Clarke Rossiter prepare for a busy ANZAC Day 2022

Taken at our Reunion Luncheon.

ANZAC Day Odd Bods Reunion 2022 In Pictures

 

The 2022 Odd Bods Reunion was held in the very pleasant surroundings of Amora in Richmond. The program included the Last Post and Reveille, a presentation by President Bruce Waxman OAM with particular reference to Odd Bod Spitfire Pilots, a fascinating question and answer session with our newest member Sue Brookes who has an extensive RAAF history, and the Loyal Toast as shown in our lead photo. 

The best smiles of the day - L-R Geoff Clark, Sue Bennett, Sue Brookes, Jan Dimmick, & Jennifer Hibbens.

 

               Jan Dimmick                                                                                           Doug Parry

Rosemaree Matta and Jane Ford.

 

 

                                            Michael Rossiter & Gary Elliott                           Sue Brookes and Bruce Waxman.

Sue Bennett, Jan Dimmick, Robert Jackson & Jenny Hibbens.

                                          Vice President Peter Randell and President Bruce Waxman.

Carol McCabe proudly displays her father's medals in front of the banner.

   

Clarke Rossiter chats with Bruce Waxman while Greg Parry, Leigh Bennett, and Doug Parry enjoy conversation.