460 Squadron Veterans & Friends Group The G for George Squadron July - September 2017 ANZAC Eve and Day - Sydney: ANZAC Eve – Sydney: 60 Sqn Wreath Laying Leader David Barrington marched the gathered group4 to The Cenotaph in Martin Place Sydney, to commence laying the wreaths as the overhead G.P.O. bells chimed 12 Noon on ANZAC Eve. Wreaths were laid by 460 Sqn Veteran Monty Roche; CO of the current 460 Sqn RAAF WGCDR Cal Harrison; Mr. Willem Cosign Consul General – Kingdom of the the opportunity to meet WGCD Harrison Netherlands (in honour and memory of L: The wreath laying group gathers: Olive Spence, and catch up with past CO WGDCR Rob David Tod, with Willem Cosign talking to Betty Operation Manna); 463 Sqn Veteran Don Elliott and his family . Seery Southwell, Secretary Bomber Command On behalf of 460 Sqn V&F Group, the M: About to march to The Cenotaph: David Tod Commemorative Day Foundation and by editor thanks Bob Spence for organising carrying the banner, wreath layers in the first Jeff McClenaughan, representing Path both the wreath laying ceremony and the row: Willem Cosign, WGCDR Harrison, Monty Finder Force. lunch plus Janenne Moffatt for inviting Roche, Don Southwell. John Egan DFC Ld’H in the second row. David Barrington & Bob Spence A large group of twenty nine 460 Sqn the Dutch Consul General and Trish (backs to the camera) with PFF wreath layer Jeff and Bomber Command related people Berghouse for arranging the two 460 Sqn McClenaughan and Secretary Bomber Command attended the moving ceremony with most related wreaths and being the money Association in Australia Annette Guterres. then adjourning to the nearby Westin collector. R: Our wreaths on The Cenotaph after the Hotel for a light lunch with many taking Photos by Bob & Olive Spence and Anne Bender ceremony Canberra to march behind the 460 Sqn current serving RAAF personnel from ANZAC Day banner (brought in as always by David several squadrons and friends of Bomber In this bulletin, the editor is Barrington) and to assist our Veterans Command. attempting to highlight how 460 and Widows and to highlight the historic Thank you to Annette Guterres; Jane Squadron is still remembered and link between the current and WWII Beech Allen and the others on the BCAA honoured around the world on 460 Squadron. The brother of 460 Sqn luncheon organising committee. ANZAC Day Veteran Mr Williams (both their first names were not noted) who himself Sydney: flew in WWII with 53 Sqn (RAF Coastal Melbourne: fter David Tod chased down our Command) was pushed in his wheelchair rom the 460 SQUADRON (R.A.A.F.) requested RAAFA wheel chairs, by his granddaughter, asked to march FASSOCIATION (VICTORIA) May 460A Sqn marchers formed up behind with us in honour of his brother, whose 2017 Newsletter: our banner and 460 Sqn march leader medals he was wearing. It was raining steadily for the Dawn F/O John Egan DFC Ld’H who travelled At march end, many of the marchers Service, but by the time we moved down from Gunnedah for ANZAC Eve adjourned to the Bomber Command off, it had almost passed over, just a and ANZAC Day. Veterans Fred Sargeant Association ANZAC Day lunch at the short, sharp shower after we reached and Monty Roche (who was delayed by Royal Automobile Club. Seated at the the Shrine. The two ex-460 Squadron traffic & joined in later) marched with 460 Squadron tables were Trish & Ray members rode behind our banner in a many sons and daughters of Veterans, Berghouse; Megan Edwards; the four Jeep, (not the easiest of vehicles for 90+ including David Barrington, Bob Spence, 460 Sqn RAAF personnel who marched; year-olds to climb into) with 14 relatives David & Barrie Tod; Trish & Ray Beverley Mayer; Meredith McFadden, of ex-members marching behind. Berghouse, Dan Cullen Jr, Marrianne widow of Bill McFadden DFM MSEE, At our (post march) service at (the 460 Laurie; and Megan Edwards. Joy & Janenne Moffatt; Bob Spence; Sqn) tree, there were 39 in attendance, The CO of the current 460 SQN and David & Barrie Tod. Reports from all which was very good considering the RAAF had commitments in Canberra attendees were that the food and drinks weather outlook. When the tree was so sent four of his serving personnel were of good quality, the chatter was planted in 1995, the dedication address (LAC Yasuari Fujimura; CPL Justin rowdy with conversations carried out was given by Wing Commander Keith Strecker; CPL Mason Gow; and LACW across a room full of Bomber Command Kaufmann who in 1942 had been the Desideria van Kleef) who travelled from Veterans, Widow, family members, squadron’s second commanding officer. Page 1 On Anzac Day, his great-nephew to commemorate the 460’s time with Andrew Kaufmann read part of that us in Binbrook. address for us. Miss Hall also decided to lead a special The wreath was laid on the dedication assembly on ANZAC Eve so that not plaque by Audrey Williams, assisted by only the Binbrook Scouts but all Binbrook her daughter Pam and son Edward, and children knew the reason behind David Bird read “The Ode to the Fallen”. the importance of this day more fully Both Audrey and David lost brothers understood it’s background. while serving with 460 Squadron. The With the help of YouTube we also poem “In Flanders Fields” was read by managed to watch 460 Sqn on parade Colin Fraser, and then Suzanne Trist read Eden NSW and Canberra ACT: today which was also very special a poem by Noel Coward, “Lie in the Dark urrent 460 SQN RAAF personnel and goes to show how small our World and Listen”. (thank you to Colin Fraser & CSGT Oates, LAC Van Duren, LAC is really. Laurie Williams for the newsletter) Klaus, LAC Franklin and LAC Cara We hope 460 Sqn V&F Group all had marching in Eden on Anzac Day. a good ANZAC Day and you all know Apart from the four current 460 SQN that even though we are 10,500 miles Adelaide: personnel who marched behind the 460 away we are thinking of all the 460 Sqn GCDR Ian Gibson and his wife SQN banner in Sydney, the main body of members (past and present) and their Julie attended the Dawn Service the squadron marched in the Canberra families on this very special day” atW Walkerville, followed by breakfast at parade along Anzac Parade to the Walkerville RSL. Their thoughts were Australian War Memorial. with their many 460 Sqn Veterans and RAF Binbrook Heritage Centre – widows. In previous years, Doug Leak, cousin Binbrook & Brookenby: Ident Square memorial of 460 Sqn Veteran Lloyd Leak and a ay Whitely, Curator of RAF Binbrook Bomber Command Veteran in his own Binbrook Village 460 Squadron Heritage Centre which incorporates right with 149 SQN, marched with our 460R Sqn Memorial Park at the old 460 SQN Veterans in the Adelaide memorial Binbrook airfield advises of their ANZAC ANZAC Day march. Doug marched inbrook Group Scout Leader and Day 2017: this year, with his trusty ‘gofer’ – many Binbrook Parish Councillor, Mike “It was a great pleasure to welcome thanks Doug. KaynesB emailed me to report on ANZAC David Lester and his granddaughter Doug and his wife Laurel have Day in Binbrook Village: Ella to the Heritage Centre on ANZAC represented Lloyd at a couple of “This year with the kind support of our Day. David is the son of F/Sgt Lester J the annual 460 SQN Reformation new school head (Miss Hall) we were Burrows DFM RAAF (Rear Gunner who Anniversary dinners in Canberra. given permission to take 14 Cubs and flew 29 ops with various pilots, including Unfortunately they are unable to attend Scouts out of school to attend the ANZAC the 26 November 1943 raid to Berlin in this year’s seventh anniversary being Day service at the Binbrook Village’s 460 G-for-George with Harry Carter). Lester celebrated at the ‘Dinner with George’ Squadron memorial: passed away in 1994 and Ella chose We were very proud of all our Cubs and a tree in the Memorial Park that is now Scouts who attended and they became dedicated to him. Perth: part of a world-wide event that many David, Ella and I were joined for our oug Arrowsmith DFC OAM Cubs and Scouts participate in to show ANZAC Day service by Flt Lt Shaun DLd’H attended the 75th their respect to the ANZAC’s. Hayles RAAF. Shaun is an exchange pilot Anniversary of Bomber Command The Parish councillors and members flying Typhoons at RAF Coningsby. Operational - Service to lay a wreath of the public were also joined this year Wreaths were laid at 1100 am and I for 460 Squadron. This was held just by members of the Binbrook and read out Mark Chandler’s superb poem prior to ANZAC Day at the Flame District WI (Woman’s Institute) who “You came”. of Remembrance, Perth. Also in also laid a tribute. A very moving day in pretty dire attendance was George Murray, son of Our Chairman of the Parish weather at times.” Ian Murray, DFM, who was the Flight Council (Ian Burgess) led a Engineer in S/L J H C Clark RAAF’s crew. short service explaining the On ANZAC Day, Doug attended meaning of ANZAC Day and two Primary Schools Services and a its particular significance to Memorial Service at an Aged Care Home. this small part of England. After a reading the wreaths were laid and a minute’s silence observed before completing the service. We have decided to this year replace our Scout flag in the village and fly the RAAF flag Top Left: Ian Burgess, Chairman of the Binbrook Parish Council L: Doug Arrowsmith leading the ANZAC Day service invited George Murray to Top Right: Binbrook Cub & join him in the laying of Scout wreath being laid the wreath.