Post by fwx on Aug 15, 2016 21:54:38 GMT 12
It was only in recent years that I realised a long-time family friend (related by marriage) had served in the RNZAF during the war, and trained as a Navigator on Lancasters.
Having just completed an accountancy degree, George enlisted in the Army in either ‘41 or ‘42, and served in the Signals Corp as a motorbike despatch rider in the Far North of New Zealand.
“12th Infantry Brigade, 1st Divisional Signals, Kaikohe.
Morrie Horne, Don Calway, Ash Hewitt, Jack Wilson, George Davis, MacKinnon, Win Soper, Ivan Lukas.”
After a while he decided to volunteer for the RNZAF, and he and a mate, both university-qualified, managed to short-cut the examination process, and soon found themselves at ITW in Rotorua, and then off to Canada to train as Navigators.
17 Sept 1943: Flight 3B, Composite Course 11, Initial Training Wing, Rotorua. George third from right, front row.
April 1944: "The Chinook", No 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta
June 1944: Class Graduation Dinner menu and class photo, No 2 Air Observers' School (2AOS), Edmonton, Alberta
“Anson”
By the time he reached England, the European war was drawing to a close, and heavy bomber aircrew training was changing to meet the different requirements of the Far East and Tiger Force. The anticipated longer flights over the ocean, and greater reliance on new radar technologies were also changing the make-up of the bomber crew - George was trained for the new role of Second Navigator (Nav 2), responsible for radar and electronics, as well as bomb aiming.
These crew photos were presumably taken during Operational Training:
“Crew, UK, 1945. (rear) Jim Henderson, George Oughton, Rear Gunner Tom, (front) Ian Catterall, George Davis”
“Part crew UK 1945. George Davis, George Oughton, Tom ?, Ian Catterall”
After a long and no doubt frustrating period of training, they finally received their posting to a bomber squadron, 75 (NZ) Sqdn RAF, but as it turned out, the posting arrived on the day that the war ended!
So he never made it to an operational Squadron, but fortunately didn’t have to wait around for too long, and was shipped back home on the S.S. Andes only a few weeks later.
The Andes, “one of the world’s most modern liners”, left Southampton on 23rd of September 1945, and George's almost-squadron paid a flying visit:
AIRMEN ON WAY HOME
Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 23.
A band played the R.A.F. march as the Andes sailed from Southampton with 1500 New Zealand and 1000 Australian homeward-bound airmen, whose decorations testified to the great part they played against the enemy. An aircraft escort from 75th Squadron, in which many New Zealanders served, roared overhead in a farewell salute.
- 75 (NZ) Sqdn flypast – from the NZBCA archives.
75 (NZ) Sqdn had received its first three brand new Avro Lincolns only a week or two earlier, intended as replacements for their Lancasters. Two Lincolns flew from RAF Spilsby to salute the departing ship as it left the dock at Southampton, one of them flown by the Commanding Officer, W/C “Mac” Baigent. The flypast was to honour the large number of RNZAF aircrew on board, about 1500 of them.
The ship was out to break the record from Southampton to Melbourne, which she comfortably did, and after a quick shore leave in Melbourne, the Kiwis sailed for home.
The ship was to disembark the South Islanders at Lyttelton, and North Islanders at Wellington, where George and the other Aucklanders would catch the train home. You can imagine that they were all pretty keen to get back; some had been POW’s, many had been away for several years. But the next morning, when they should have been only hours out from Lyttelton, George says the troops awoke to see flying fish overtaking the ship ... Apparently the crew had received word from Lyttelton that the watersiders were arguing conditions for unloading her on the Sunday, and Monday was Labour Day!! The ship had to slow down, spending an extra two days in the Tasman!
He said the boys were hopping mad, and hung out a sign saying "Welcome Home, except on Labour Weekend". As the newspapers of the day reported:
COINS AND EGGS
SOLDIERS INCENSED
ANDES' LATE ARRIVAL
P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, this day.
"Welcome home except on Labour Day. We are going to the races." These words painted on a canvas sign which hung over the side of the troopship Andes when she berthed at Lyttelton this morning expressed the grievance felt by the returning servicemen aboard the vessel. When the Andes left Melbourne at 7 a.m. last Thursday the men expected to reach Lyttelton on Sunday morning. On Friday, however, they were told there would be no labour available to work the ship at Lyttelton on Sunday or Monday and she would therefore not berth before this morning. "We broke the Mauretania's record from Southampton to Melbourne, doing the trip in 23 days and six hours," said one soldier who has returned to New Zealand after four years in German prison camps. "We had a day's leave in Melbourne last Wednesday and left there about 7 a.m. on Thursday. We waddled across the Tasman like a dirty old duck." When it was announced that the Andes would not berth until today. he added, everyone became very "edgy." There was much dissatisfaction at what the men considered an unnecessary delay. As the ship drew alongside the personnel voiced their disapproval. Shouts of "Did you enjoy your holiday yesterday?" "How was Labour Day?" "Are you going to work today?" were addressed to those on the wharf. Showers of pennies with occasional shillings and half-crowns were apparently an incentive to those ashore to do something to hasten the berthing. There were uncomplimentary references to "wharfies," although there was none on the jetty. In spite of their gibes, however, the Servicemen were in good spirits, and there did not seem to be any real rancour behind their remarks. An egg sailed down with one shower of coins before the ship berthed, but failed to register a hit. Shortly after the ship berthed the official party which had gone out to her by launch went down the gangway. More eggs fell about this party, which included the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, and the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan.
The remaining troops were still angry when they got to Wellington:
EGGS THROWN FROM ANDES
Evening Post, Wellington 24 Oct 1945.
The demonstration as the official party, including the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) and the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), went on board was to express the grievance of the men at the length of time which has passed since the Andes left Melbourne last Thursday. The ship made a record trip from Southampton to Melbourne in just over 23 days. After the vessel left that port, according to one of the men seen by a "Post" reporter, a message was put over the ship's loudspeaker system telling the men that the Andes could not get to New Zealand earlier, as the watersiders would not unload the ship. The tattered canvas sign "Welcome home except on Labour Day. We are going to the races," displayed at Lyttelton, still hung from the ship's side, weighted down by a beer bottle. "Twenty-three days to Aussie, then four and a half to get to New Zealand!" said one of the men disgustedly. ."It's a good job for the wharfies there were none on the wharf yesterday. We would have thrown them into 'the drink!'" "Welcome home to New Zealand, but not on holidays," added another. "The wharfies must have their holidays, but never mind the man that has been fighting for them."
It was a strange position to be in for George, and no doubt many others, having trained and been fully prepared to join the fighting war, and not being able to make a contribution. On the other hand, you would be very pleased that it was over, and happy to come home in one piece!
George returned to his accountancy career in civilian life, and served for many years as a Company Secretary in the Bay of Plenty dairy industry. He and his late wife Rona (who served as a WAAF heavy transport driver during the war), taught ballroom dancing to a whole generation of us country schoolkids. George is still fit and active, sharp as a pin, living in Whakatane, and recently visited the MoTaT Lancaster for a special trip down memory lane.
Having just completed an accountancy degree, George enlisted in the Army in either ‘41 or ‘42, and served in the Signals Corp as a motorbike despatch rider in the Far North of New Zealand.
“12th Infantry Brigade, 1st Divisional Signals, Kaikohe.
Morrie Horne, Don Calway, Ash Hewitt, Jack Wilson, George Davis, MacKinnon, Win Soper, Ivan Lukas.”
After a while he decided to volunteer for the RNZAF, and he and a mate, both university-qualified, managed to short-cut the examination process, and soon found themselves at ITW in Rotorua, and then off to Canada to train as Navigators.
17 Sept 1943: Flight 3B, Composite Course 11, Initial Training Wing, Rotorua. George third from right, front row.
April 1944: "The Chinook", No 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta
June 1944: Class Graduation Dinner menu and class photo, No 2 Air Observers' School (2AOS), Edmonton, Alberta
“Anson”
By the time he reached England, the European war was drawing to a close, and heavy bomber aircrew training was changing to meet the different requirements of the Far East and Tiger Force. The anticipated longer flights over the ocean, and greater reliance on new radar technologies were also changing the make-up of the bomber crew - George was trained for the new role of Second Navigator (Nav 2), responsible for radar and electronics, as well as bomb aiming.
These crew photos were presumably taken during Operational Training:
“Crew, UK, 1945. (rear) Jim Henderson, George Oughton, Rear Gunner Tom, (front) Ian Catterall, George Davis”
“Part crew UK 1945. George Davis, George Oughton, Tom ?, Ian Catterall”
After a long and no doubt frustrating period of training, they finally received their posting to a bomber squadron, 75 (NZ) Sqdn RAF, but as it turned out, the posting arrived on the day that the war ended!
So he never made it to an operational Squadron, but fortunately didn’t have to wait around for too long, and was shipped back home on the S.S. Andes only a few weeks later.
The Andes, “one of the world’s most modern liners”, left Southampton on 23rd of September 1945, and George's almost-squadron paid a flying visit:
AIRMEN ON WAY HOME
Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 23.
A band played the R.A.F. march as the Andes sailed from Southampton with 1500 New Zealand and 1000 Australian homeward-bound airmen, whose decorations testified to the great part they played against the enemy. An aircraft escort from 75th Squadron, in which many New Zealanders served, roared overhead in a farewell salute.
- 75 (NZ) Sqdn flypast – from the NZBCA archives.
75 (NZ) Sqdn had received its first three brand new Avro Lincolns only a week or two earlier, intended as replacements for their Lancasters. Two Lincolns flew from RAF Spilsby to salute the departing ship as it left the dock at Southampton, one of them flown by the Commanding Officer, W/C “Mac” Baigent. The flypast was to honour the large number of RNZAF aircrew on board, about 1500 of them.
The ship was out to break the record from Southampton to Melbourne, which she comfortably did, and after a quick shore leave in Melbourne, the Kiwis sailed for home.
The ship was to disembark the South Islanders at Lyttelton, and North Islanders at Wellington, where George and the other Aucklanders would catch the train home. You can imagine that they were all pretty keen to get back; some had been POW’s, many had been away for several years. But the next morning, when they should have been only hours out from Lyttelton, George says the troops awoke to see flying fish overtaking the ship ... Apparently the crew had received word from Lyttelton that the watersiders were arguing conditions for unloading her on the Sunday, and Monday was Labour Day!! The ship had to slow down, spending an extra two days in the Tasman!
He said the boys were hopping mad, and hung out a sign saying "Welcome Home, except on Labour Weekend". As the newspapers of the day reported:
COINS AND EGGS
SOLDIERS INCENSED
ANDES' LATE ARRIVAL
P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, this day.
"Welcome home except on Labour Day. We are going to the races." These words painted on a canvas sign which hung over the side of the troopship Andes when she berthed at Lyttelton this morning expressed the grievance felt by the returning servicemen aboard the vessel. When the Andes left Melbourne at 7 a.m. last Thursday the men expected to reach Lyttelton on Sunday morning. On Friday, however, they were told there would be no labour available to work the ship at Lyttelton on Sunday or Monday and she would therefore not berth before this morning. "We broke the Mauretania's record from Southampton to Melbourne, doing the trip in 23 days and six hours," said one soldier who has returned to New Zealand after four years in German prison camps. "We had a day's leave in Melbourne last Wednesday and left there about 7 a.m. on Thursday. We waddled across the Tasman like a dirty old duck." When it was announced that the Andes would not berth until today. he added, everyone became very "edgy." There was much dissatisfaction at what the men considered an unnecessary delay. As the ship drew alongside the personnel voiced their disapproval. Shouts of "Did you enjoy your holiday yesterday?" "How was Labour Day?" "Are you going to work today?" were addressed to those on the wharf. Showers of pennies with occasional shillings and half-crowns were apparently an incentive to those ashore to do something to hasten the berthing. There were uncomplimentary references to "wharfies," although there was none on the jetty. In spite of their gibes, however, the Servicemen were in good spirits, and there did not seem to be any real rancour behind their remarks. An egg sailed down with one shower of coins before the ship berthed, but failed to register a hit. Shortly after the ship berthed the official party which had gone out to her by launch went down the gangway. More eggs fell about this party, which included the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, and the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan.
The remaining troops were still angry when they got to Wellington:
EGGS THROWN FROM ANDES
Evening Post, Wellington 24 Oct 1945.
The demonstration as the official party, including the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) and the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), went on board was to express the grievance of the men at the length of time which has passed since the Andes left Melbourne last Thursday. The ship made a record trip from Southampton to Melbourne in just over 23 days. After the vessel left that port, according to one of the men seen by a "Post" reporter, a message was put over the ship's loudspeaker system telling the men that the Andes could not get to New Zealand earlier, as the watersiders would not unload the ship. The tattered canvas sign "Welcome home except on Labour Day. We are going to the races," displayed at Lyttelton, still hung from the ship's side, weighted down by a beer bottle. "Twenty-three days to Aussie, then four and a half to get to New Zealand!" said one of the men disgustedly. ."It's a good job for the wharfies there were none on the wharf yesterday. We would have thrown them into 'the drink!'" "Welcome home to New Zealand, but not on holidays," added another. "The wharfies must have their holidays, but never mind the man that has been fighting for them."
It was a strange position to be in for George, and no doubt many others, having trained and been fully prepared to join the fighting war, and not being able to make a contribution. On the other hand, you would be very pleased that it was over, and happy to come home in one piece!
George returned to his accountancy career in civilian life, and served for many years as a Company Secretary in the Bay of Plenty dairy industry. He and his late wife Rona (who served as a WAAF heavy transport driver during the war), taught ballroom dancing to a whole generation of us country schoolkids. George is still fit and active, sharp as a pin, living in Whakatane, and recently visited the MoTaT Lancaster for a special trip down memory lane.
