Allied Forces Remembrance Day 2023
Melvin Chambers • November 22, 2023
Five Australian servicemen make special visit to Allied graves
Den Ham,11 November 2023.
Five Australian military servicemen drove from southern Germany to pay their respects to the Hammer War dead on Remembrance Day 2023. After a four hour drive they arrived at the old cemetery on the Molenstraat just before the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month. This was when the guns fell silent in 1918 ending the Great War. This day is remembered throughout the Commonwealth countries as Remembrance Day when the war dead from WW1 and subsequent wars are remembered.
At 11 am the five servicemen held a small ceremony to remember airmen Les Knight, Thomas Mair and Kenneth Blow. The Last Post sounded, a two minute silence was held and wreaths laid. The Australians placed a beer at each grave in a personal tribute.
After a light lunch the men visited the Les Knight monument on the Janmansweg. The group were deeply moved on how well both monument and graves are kept.
An amazing find in the Australian War Memorial Archive: A movie of King George VI on a visit to Scampton speaking to the Dambusters
A selection of movies you may find of interest
Family and Pelgrims find their way to Den Ham to pay homageto war dead
Historisch bommenwerper keert terug naar Den Ham
Historisch Lancasterbommenwerper komt naar Den Ham
Cheers Johnny on your 100th Birthday
Melbourne, 25 May 2021, The second edition of an amazing book has just come onto the market. The late Arnold Eaton DFC wrote the history of the Lancaster he flew in during the war. Old Fred - The Fox as the Lancaster was lovingly nicknamed flew 49 bombing missions. Each mission is recalled in this well researched and presented book. This second edition has been updated and edited by his son Geoff. It is a great read and contains many photographs of missions, maps, mission records and personal memories. The front end of the fuselage of the Lancaster can be seen in the Imperial War Museum, London. The book can be ordered online via: Tales From The Treehouse: https://talesfromthetreehouse.com.au Price is AUS$ 35 excluding postage.
Camberwell, 25 May 2021 Members of the Odd Bods Association in the hometown of Les Knight have kindly sent us some images of the street in Camberwell where he grew up. The leafy Melbourne suburb of Camberwell is also home to a new monument in the sport park in Bowen Street. The Odd Bods Association is an international group who place monuments to the fallen. These pictures were kindly supplied by member Jennifer Hibbens. Due to Covid the monument has not as yet been officially unveiled. It is hoped this will take place in October this year. For more information about this group follow this link https://www.friendsofoddbods.com/
DEN HAM: 10 APRIL 2021. This image was taken by one of our board members from the Les Knight monument on 10 April 2021. It captures the Missing Man tribute by pilots of the Egmond Vintage Wings memorial flight. Minutes earlier these gracious aircraft flew over the neighbouring villages of Hellendoorn and Nijverdal who were celebrating their 76th anniversary of their Liberation by the canadian Army. The aircraft were returning to base at Hoogeveen airport when they detoured to honour the memory of the Australian dambuster hero, who is buried in the old cemetery in Den Ham. Thank you everyone at Egmond Vintage Wings for this sincere and unexpected accolade.
CANADA / DEN HAM: 7 MARCH 2021 : Two unexpected discoveries on Les Knight's 100th birthday this month. His Christening gown was discovered in Edmonton, Canada. The gown is made of silk and is in perfect condition. It was made by Les Knight's mother Nellie for his baptism. It is an excellent piece of craftmanship. The needle work is of a very high standard. Les Knight and his crew formed a bond which kept the crew united for decades following his tragic death. The families kept in touch often visiting each other across the globe. When Mrs.Knight heard the wife of Harry O'Brien was pregnant with their first born, she sent the gown to Canada. It arrived just in time to worn at the baptism of Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien's daughter Leslie, who was named after O'Brien's skipper. The gown was discovered on what would have been Les's 100th birthday. A few days later, this long lost crew photograph was discovered. It is his famous crew taken at Wainfleet, Lincolnshire during the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Dams Raids. RAF Wainfleet was a training range where the 617 Squadron spent many hours perfecting their low level bombing and gunnery skills. It was a coastal range some 60 km south-east of Lincoln. It has now been given back to nature and is famous for its control tower. From left to right : Harry O'Brien, Fred Sutherland, Bob Kellow, Sydney Hobday, Ray Grayston and Edward "Johnny" Johnson.