Annual Luncheon At Leonda

Today’s luncheon at Leonda was enjoyed by a range of Odd Bods, Affiliates and their family members. It was the first luncheon under the guidance of the Friends of the Odd Bods Association and President Bruce Waxman recognised the significance of the event in his welcome.

We were treated to excellent food, great company, and the usual surprise or two with some wonderful jokes from Walter Eacott, a song from Terry Maher, a poem from Weston Bate and a surprise presentation of a Life Membership to Odd Bods Treasurer Doug Parry. Walter Eacott and George Smith emphasised that Doug’s award was overdue after 15 wonderful years of service.

A feature of this year’s luncheon was a series of portraits taken for the Reflections Project by AIPP photographer Robert Anderson. Images taken under the project will be archived with the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Here are some of our own photographs from the luncheon. Simply click on a photo for a larger version.

If you have some of your own photos from the event please email them to us for inclusion on the website. Email to gregandsuesmith@iinet.net.au

Great Escape Tunnel Unearthed

On 11th September we published an article about Australian airman, Paul Royle, who was involved in the "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III in 1944. Untouched for almost seven decades, the tunnel used in the Great Escape has finally been unearthed.
The  111-yard passage nicknamed 'Harry' by Allied prisoners was sealed by  the Germans after the audacious break-out from the POW camp Stalag Luft III in western Poland .
Despite huge interest in the subject, encouraged by the film starring Steve McQueen, the tunnel remained  undisturbed over the decades because it was behind the Iron Curtain  and the Soviet authorities had no interest in its  significance.

But at last British  archaeologists have excavated it, and discovered its remarkable  secrets.

Many of the bed boards which had been joined together  to stop it collapsing were still in

position. And the ventilation  shaft, ingeniously crafted from used powdered milk containers known as  Klim Tins, remained in working order. Scattered throughout the  tunnel, which is 30ft below ground, were bits of old metal buckets,  hammers and crowbars which were used to hollow out the route.

A  total of 600 prisoners worked on three tunnels at the same time. They  were nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry and were just 2 ft square for most  of their length. It was on the night of March 24 and 25,  1944, that 76 Allied airmen escaped through Harry. Barely a third  of the 200 prisoners - many in fake German uniforms and civilian outfits and carrying false identity papers - who were meant to slip  away managed to leave before the alarm was raised when escapee number  77 was spotted.

Only  three made it back to Britain . Another 50 were executed by firing  squad on the orders of Adolf Hitler, who was furious after learning of  the breach of security. In all, 90 boards from bunk beds, 62  tables, 34 chairs and 76 benches, as well as thousands of items  including knives, spoons, forks, towels and blankets, were squirrelled  away by the Allied prisoners to aid the escape plan under the noses of  their captors.

Although the Hollywood movie suggested otherwise, reports suggest that NO Americans were involved in the actual escape. Most were British, and  the others were from Canada , (all  the tunnellers were Canadian  personnel with backgrounds in mining) Poland , New Zealand , Australia , and South Africa.

Thank you to Terry Maher for this story.

Congratulations To Gerald McPherson

We reported back in September that Gerald McPherson was the latest Odd Bods recipient of The Legion of Honour, or in full, the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur).

Our photo shows Gerald proudly wearing the medal following a recent presentation ceremony.

Remembrance Day At Repat Heidelberg

The original Odd Bods banner was designed and made in the laundry of the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg Victoria back in the 1950's. It now proudly hangs at the hospital suitably protected in a large frame and features, along with an Odd Bods plaque in the hospital's annual Remembrance Day service. This year the service included the dedication of a 460 squadron plaque and a flyover by a Pilatus PC9.

Ryder Cheshire Gift Cards For Christmas

Friends Of The Odd Bods are supporters of the Ryder Cheshire Foundation and we are pleased to pass on the following communication about their gift cards.

The Perfect Gift

A RYDER-CHESHIRE GIFT CARD

Supporting Klibur Domin East Timor

We offer four different cards ( 2 shown below) each with five different insert options indicating that:

A Donation has been Made in Your Name for:

. The cost of the care of one patient for one day ($10)

. The cost of electricity for the home for one day ($20)

. The cost of the purchase of a set of crutches ($30)

. The cost of educating a disabled child for one month ($50)

. The cast of the purchase of a wheelchair ($100)

Order your Gift Cards for Christmas from-  

Peter and Helen Newton

50 Myrtle Grove

BLACKBURN Vic 3130

Or contact 03 9894 3191 or email phnewton@bigpond.com

Aussie Mossie Newsletter

The Mosquito Aircraft Association of Australia (MAAA) is offering to put interested Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc members on their complimentary email list. This will ensure that you receive emailed copies of their “Aussie Mossie” newsletters.

Let us know if you would like to receive the email and we will pass on your address to the MAAA. You can respond by clicking on the comment tag below this post or by emailing gregandsuesmith@iinet.net.au

More To The Vulcan Story

Last week we reported on the last flight of the Vulcan. The magnificent vision of this aircraft performing a faultless take-off and landing display was very impressive but on one flight out of Prestwick in Scotland XH558 needed a bit of help from a friend.

Apparently the nose gear failed to extend on the aircraft’s final descent and it took a slightly older aircraft, a Spitfire, to assist. The Spitfire flew close to the Vulcan’s right wing and confirmed that the wheel was only half extended. A few climbing tight turns for the Vulcan did the job and the wheel extended to allow a safe landing as it followed in after the Spitfire.

Bomber Command Interview Request

George Smith received the following email from a Mr.Adam Purcell seeking contact with Bomber Command veterans - 

The IBCC Bomber Command Digital Archive

The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC), currently under development in Lincolnshire in the UK, aims to become a world-class facility to serve as a point of recognition, remembrance and reconciliation for Bomber Command. The completed Centre, cheduled to open in 2016, will consist of:

  . a Memorial Spire (recently erected) and walls of names of those who lost their lives serving in Bomber Command;

  . an Interpretation Centre to house exhibition, information and education facilities; and

  . Peace Gardens and sculpture parks

The Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust, which is developing the Centre, is also establishing a Bomber Command Digital Archive. This aims to become the most comprehensive source for Bomber Command information in the world.

As part of the Digital Archive a large-scale oral history project is underway, in conjunction with the University of Lincoln, to try and collect as many different Bomber Command voices as possible. The resulting interviews will be used to tell the stories that will feature in the Centre’s

exhibitions and displays, as well as forming a valuable resource in its own right for future research.

I am a volunteer interviewer for the IBCC’s Digital Archive and I would like to invite you to be

interviewed about your Bomber Command experiences as part of the project. Your voice would be recorded and the recording would become part of the Archive in perpetuity.

The Digital Archive is also interested in collecting photographs, scrap books, log books, letters

and any other associated memorabilia. Original documents will be scanned and returned to their

owner and the resulting digital copies will be made available in the Archive.

You can find more information about the International Bomber Command Centre on the website: www.internationalbcc.co.uk

While the statistics and the overall Bomber Command narrative are reasonably well known, it’s

personal stories that will ensure that the memories of the people who contributed to it live on.

The Bomber Command Digital Archive will be a very significant record of the personal stories

behind the Bomber Command experience, and your contribution would be a valuable addition to

it.

If you would like to be involved, please get in touch:  

. Email: adam@somethingverybig.com

. Mobile: 0405 003 312

. Post: 4/16-18 Goble St Niddrie, VIC 3042

                                  

I’d love to hear your story!

Best wishes,

Adam Purcell

for

Bomber Command Digital Archive

International Bomber Command Centre

Last Flight of the Vulcan

By Odd Bods standards the Vulcan is a modern aircraft and not one that would normally grace these pages but the video below records a special event and in a very memorable way. It is difficult not to be impressed by the beauty and power of this aircraft.

The Avro Vulcan first entered service in 1957 and the subject of this article, Vulcan XH558, has just completed its final flight. Modern air worthiness regulations have made it very difficult for the aircraft to keep flying.

Leonda Luncheon Looms

Our annual luncheon at Leonda By The Yarra  comes up on Friday 20th November 2015 and bookings are open.

A booking form and comprehensive details are available by clicking here - "Leonda Luncheon". We urge you to let us know your intentions as soon as possible. Simply print out the form and send off your remittance preferably by Electronic Fund Transfer, although cheques can be mailed as well. The form includes a parking permit for the day which you will need to print out and bring with you.

As usual, feel free to make up a party of friends/family - the more who get to enjoy this great social occasion, the better.

A photographer from the Reflections Project will be attending the luncheon and taking photos of veterans. If you would like to participate in this national record we suggest you bring your medals along. 

PS - If you have any difficulties obtaining the booking form please give Greg Smith  a call on 0406 222 020.

Welcome

Welcome to the first edition of the Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc. website/newsletter. Friends of the Odd Bods have the honour of "Pressing On Remembering" in the footsteps of The Odd Bods and we are grateful for their assistance in compiling this publication.

Friends of the Odd Bods hope to continue many of the activities of the original Odd Bods U.K. Association as we recognise the important contribution of our airmen and the interest that the wider community is showing in their legacy.

If Carlsberg made museums they would be like this……

If you drive north from the lofty spires of Lincoln Cathedral, following the arrow straight route of the roman legions along the Fosse Way you will happen upon the village of Scampton in the midst of the leafy glades of Lincolnshire.

Close your eyes and you could easily believe that it is seventy or so years ago, for nothing much has changed to disrupt the life or look of this picture-postcard village.

Like many travellers before me, I called in to the village pub, but had it been seventy years ago I would have been sharing my pint with Guy Gibson and his intrepid airmen for RAF Scampton is the home of 617 squadron, the Dambusters!

Today the signpost announces the pub as the Dambuster’s Inn, which is filled with photographs and paintings of the pilots, their aircraft and other memorabilia of the famous squadron.

The entrance porch houses a sober and lasting memorial to those who returned and those who were not so lucky, but it isn’t until you step inside that the warmth of a roaring open fire greets you and a welcoming pint of ‘Hoppy Hopgood’ eases you back into those glory days and daydreams of the aircrews that went before.

You can rest your pint on the tyre of a Lancaster whist you take in the many photographs, drawings and the medals awarded to the squadron personnel.

Or savour a home cooked meal whilst taking in the numerous aircraft models that hang from the ceiling.

Maybe even read the visitors book, which is actually the wall of the pub, personally inscribed with the witty quips and signatures of the returning veterans.

There’s a lot to see and take in, I’m told that even the ladies powder room has some interesting décor, but I couldn’t sneak in for a look as I hadn’t dressed for the occasion.

It took me half a gallon of ale and a full helping of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding to make sure that I had captured the full ambience, but sacrifices have to be made in the pursuit of investigative journalism.

“If Carlsberg made museums they would be like this……” so a mission is already in ops-planning for a low-level return, for the other half gallon that is.

A big thank you to member, Bryan Wilcockson, for writing this story.

Reports On Our Raphael Wards In India

The Odd Bods have a long history of supporting charity groups including Raphael, the Ryder Cheshire International Centre at Dehradun, the capital of the state of Uttarakhand in India's northern region.
Raphael provides  a range of disability and rehabilitation services to the disadvantaged and was set up by ex RAF Group Captain, Leonard Cheshire (Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC), and his wife, Sue Ryder (Margaret Susan Cheshire, Baroness Ryder of Warsaw and Baroness Cheshire, CMG, OBE). Shown in our photo are the three Odd Bods wards, Asma, Ankur, and Bhupinder. 

Little Asma has cerebal palsy and apparently eats her midday meal by herself. Ankur has been diagnosed with autism and attends the custodial group at Raphael. Bhupinder has been performing well in his school exams and is heading for Final Board Examinations in March 2016 (and finding time to play cricket). 
Friends of the Odd Bods will be continuing support for the Raphael Centre (click for more details).

Staying On Course

Ernest Wilson was a navigator with British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines after the war on DC 6 aircraft. He has passed on a number of stories to us and this one caught our fancy -  

A dear 80 year old lady was flying for the first time, and in the middle of the night was worried that we might get lost as we could not see where we were going. Neville was the Captain and he sat beside her and explained how we find our way.

“You see that flashing green light on the wingtip outside the window; that is on our starboard side, and on the other side there is a flashing red light on the port side. So long as those lights are flashing, we know that we are right on course.”

She complimented Neville in the morning because she had watched the flashing light during the night and we had been on course all the time. 

   

Michael Veitch's One Man Show

Reviews of Michael Veitch's one man show about WWII airmen have come from no lesser experts than Odd Bods members and those reviews have been very positive. Michael's brilliance as a writer and performer are highlighted in the show called Flak which is touring Australia this year.

"There are few storytellers in Australia like Michael Veitch. He puts humanity and wry observation into the terrible arithmetic of air warfare.  His personal mission to honour the memory and the memories of the last of a generation who bear a remarkable witness is a special kind of theatrical experience." Dr Mark Williams, Adjunct Professor, School of Art, RMIT University

Michael is on a very intensive tour of regional areas with around 20 opportunities to view his show during October in Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria. Details are available on the Regional Arts Victoria website.

From Walter Eacott, Retiring Odd Bods President.

Good-day to all my Odd Bod  mates. I can now report that the final meeting of  our illustrious organisation took place as arranged on 16 September 2015, when we passed a resolution to cease operations and cancel our incorporation. After 61 years as a recognised association, and 74 years in total since George Smith, Tich (Charles) Marshall and Hugh Niven decided to take the wonderful step of calling together all the Aussie aircrew members who had served in British RAF squadrons during WW2, we are now relying upon our relatives and friends to continue in our footsteps with the “Friends of the Odd Bods Association Incorporation”. All current financial Odd Bods are warmly welcomed to consider themselves as paid-up members of the new group. We thank President Bruce Waxman and his Committee for this generous invitation, and thank our kids, grandkids and supporters for this opportunity to be looked after at future social and commemorative events.

Heard this one?

People should always don their underwear, especially when they are working under their vehicle. There was an account from a newspaper in Brisbane, which told a story of a couple who drove in their car to a shopping centre only to have it break down in the car park. The man told his wife to continue shopping while he fixed the car.

A while later, his wife came back to find a small group of people gathered near their car. On closer inspection, she saw a pair of hairy legs protruding from under the chassis.

Unfortunately, although the man was in shorts, his lack of underpants turned his private parts into glaringly public ones. Unable to stand the embarrassment any longer she dutifully stepped forward, quickly put her hand up his shorts and tucked everything back into place out of sight.

On regaining her feet, she looked across the bonnet and found herself staring at her husband who was standing idly by watching.

The RACQ mechanic, however, had to have three stitches in his head!

Editor's Note - In the column on the left of this page you will see a section marked Walter's Wisdom. Although retiring as President of the Odd Bods and Editor of Odds'n'Ends, Walter has been good enough to continue contributing to our website and you will find links to his articles and re-prints of some of his entertaining humour at that location.

Well The Time Has Come.....

Well The Time Has Come.....

So started the final speech by Secretary and Founder of the Odd Bods, George Smith, at a meeting on 16^th September at ANZAC House to wind up the Odd Bods.

George paid tribute to the guidance of three original “elder statesmen”, Padre David Beyer, Padre John McNamara, and Bob Way who was the representative of the YMCA embedded in the RAAF in the UK.

George recalled the original meeting of the Odd Bods in August 1954 when David Beyer was elected President and made the observation that – “In forming the Association as we have, we have sounded its death knell at its birth”. “We are here today to recognise that fact” said George.

The guidance from those early days was that the Association should be a responsible member of the community, just as each member should be. That was the beginning of the Associations charitable work. George recalled the days of association with the Berry St. Babies Home and the regular family outings at which the children and nurses were entertained by Odd Bods.

George went on to say that the Association had been successful because of the calibre of the men who served on its committee over the years. He said that there were differences of opinion at times but the participants would simply agree to disagree and move on. He found it very pleasing that the Odd Bods were held in such high esteem throughout the ex-service community in Melbourne and Victoria.

George paid tribute to the wives and families of Odd Bods. He said that their acceptance and understanding of the need to continue (Pressing on Remembering) had made the process so much easier.

In a playful dig at President Walter Eacott, George referred to the Odd Bods as a multi cultural group, even prepared to receive members of the Royal Air Force into “our colonial ranks”. And finally, on a more serious note, he paid special tribute to Walter – “We have benefited from his leadership, his loyalty, and hard work over many years.”

A round of applause greeted both George and Walter. The significance of this meeting had not been lost on any of the participants.

Odd Bods Meeting 16th September

Some photos from this very special meeting held at ANZAC House on Wednesday 16th September. Full report to follow.

 

Odd Bods Receive Legion d’Honneur

Gerald Mc Pherson is the latest Odd Bod to be awarded the French Legion of Honour. 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 your name, please let us know.

George Smith                        2005
Ron Cleaver (Deceased)       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