WAR HEROES REMEMBERED THE wind dropped and the rain held off on Tuesday morning at the King Island Cemetery.
The Australian, King Island Council, RAAF and RSL flags were at half-mast and signaled respect at the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the crash of Beaufort Bomber A9-352 on 11 July 1943 that claimed the lives of the four crew members.
The ceremony also remembered three Islanders who died while serving in the RAAF during World War Two. The RAAF did a fly pass over the cemetery and as a mark of respect over the crash site.
King Island RSL subbranch president Tom Shaw welcomed the descendants of the four Pilot Officers – Leigh Edwards, Jeff Kildea, Michael Snell, Harold Jones and Bronwyn Anderson and family members and from King Island, the Lancaster family.
Acting Mayor Vernon Philbey represented the King Island Council and the Chief Executive Officer, RSL Tasmania, John Hardy and staff members and RSL Director North West Tasmania, John Findlater attended.
Wing Commander Andrew Johnson, Commanding Officer 29 (City of Hobart Squadron) Tasmania, and Warrant Officer Stephen Zantuck, Squadron Leader Robert Hayman – Chaplain, 30 Squadron RAAF Base East Sale, Squadron Leader Scott Tavasci, 32 Squadron RAAF Base East Sale and flight crews represented the Royal Australian Airforce.
Leigh Edwards, Jeff Kildea, and Michael Snell spoke about their relatives who died on 11 July 1943.The Leesue family from South Australia were unable to attend, and their tribute to Pilot Officer Leesue was delivered by subbranch Vice President Gary Barker.
In his address Mr Barker said: “We are gathered at the graves of four airmen who perished when their Beaufort Bomber A9 – 352 crashed approximately three kilometres, east north east of the King Island Aerodrome. The date was Sunday 11 July 1943 and the time around 2am.
“The plane was taking part in a formation training exercise from East Sale in Victoria with two other Beauforts over Bass Strait and then to King Island. Why or how the crash occurred is unknown, and the RAAF classified the reason as 100% obscure.
“East Sale responded rapidly and on Monday 12 July 1943 a contingent arrived, including Chaplain Victor Deakin and officers who became the pall bearers … it is remarkable that the father of Pilot Officer Kildea was able to attend the funeral on Tuesday 13 July.
“The iland lost 17 people during World War Two and today we also remember three who died while serving in the RAAF.
“They were Sergeant William Desmond Cheese better known as ‘Buff’ who died on the 20th of July 1942, while a Prisoner of War in the Netherlands after his plane from 460 Squadron was shot down; Flying Officer John Goulburn Lancaster, known as Jack, who died on the 8th of April 1943 when his plane crashed in the Gulf of Carpentaria; Aircraftwoman Nancy Jean Morrison, died on the 21st of November 1945 on the mainland as the result of an illness following her care of returned service personnel.
Sarah Lancaster, whose family has been on the island for over 100 years, honoured Buff Cheese, her grandfather Colin’s cousin and Jack, his eldest brother, by reading Colin’s words, taken from an interview conducted by Gary Barker prior to her grandfather’s passing.
Mr Shaw spoke about Nancy Jean Morrison at the family’s request. Barbara Morrison is Tom’s stepmother. Nancy was born in Currie, daughter of Ernest and Margaret Morrison and served in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force at Number 3 RAAF Hospital in NSW.
Kelly and Sarah Lancaster sang Abide with Me and this was followed by wreath laying on the graves by the families, organisations and the RAAF.
From 1943 until the late 1990s King Island District High School students placed a posy of flowers on each grave, every 11 July. KIDHS students Roger and Zac Clemons and Madge and Logan Shaw laid flowers, accompanied by Sarah Lancaster and Chase Osbourne.
King Island TV live streamed the event. To view go to the King Island TV Facebook page and click the link or go to YouTube and in search box King Island TV.