RTW 42. Distinguished Flying Cross

Sunday, 13 June 2010

Winnipeg, Canada

Assiniboine Park houses an art gallery. Notable, dear reader, as it has the only known oil painting of Winnie the Pooh.

Winnie the Pooh being named after Winnipeg. Enroute to join the Canadian Army Veterinary Corp at the start of World War 1, Harry Colebourn purchased a bear cub. And named it Winnie after his hometown Winnipeg. He took it to England and left it with London Zoo before leaving for France.

It was whilst Winnie was at London Zoo that AA Milne’s son Christopher Robin became a fan and so AA Milne called the bear in his stories Winnie the Pooh.

The stuff you learn in this blog, dear reader.

Invited for a farewell BBQ at Maurice’s.

And more interesting tales.

Upon the death of his best friend Ron Bradford, his widow gave Maurice all of his papers. Which we are given the opportunity of looking through. What a fascinating history.

Included in one newspaper article is the fact that Maurice and Ron were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Mr Manitoba mentions this to Maurice.

“Oh yeah” is the nonchalant reply.

“Would it embarrass you to see the DFC?”

He’d previously explained that he and Ron had undertaken a 23hr 35min air-sea rescue from Ceylon and past the Andaman Islands during WW2 to rescue 10 aircrew but had never mentioned the DFC. At the time, it was the longest air-sea rescue mission of the war.

Further papers appear. One of which is a copy letter from the MOD to my Great Aunt telling her she’s due £38 in salvage fees due to my Great Uncle and crew finding a wreckage in 1943. The letter is dated 1948.

And then.

A small black box appears.

With three embossed letters.

D.F.C.

He opens it and picks it up making some quip about it needing a polish.

It’s placed in my hand.

Feeling incredibly humbled to be in his and its presence.

It’s all getting a little bit emotional, dear reader.

The stories.

The memories.

The things these brave men and women went through so people like you and I can enjoy our freedoms today.

The time sadly comes when we must leave as I have a train to catch. It’s an emotional goodbye to people I’ve only just met but have formed a close bond with arising out of a common link.

My Great Uncle.

And a reminder that 67 years ago on this day and date, Sunday, 13 June 1943, he and his crew were shot down and killed over the Bay of Biscay fighting for the freedoms you all enjoy today.

He died the day before his second wedding anniversary.

My Great Aunt never remarried.

‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today.’

RIP:

Flying Officer Leonard Bertrand Lee

Flying Officer Desmond Fairfax Hill

Pilot Officer George Lough

Flying Officer Alfred Keith McDougall RCAF

Flying Officer Robert Jasper Agur RCAF

Sergeant Vincent Murray Goldstone RCAF

Sergeant Robert Alexander Shaw RCAF

Sergeant Richard Evelyn Joseph Smith