Thread: Teddy Sheean VC at last

[QUOTE=4bee;3024082]


My Late Uncle John was with 13 Sqdn & not long after Armidale, was shot down over the Celebes Sea in flames & presumed KIA. Aged 21. /QUOTE]

You may have already seen this, but in case not, 13 Squadron, RAAF, City of Darwin squadron.

Virtual War Memorial | No. 13 Squadron (RAAF)


Some images of 13 Sqn, among others.

13 squadron raaf - Bing images

[QUOTE=bob10;3024381]

Originally Posted by 4bee

My Late Uncle John was with 13 Sqdn & not long after Armidale, was shot down over the Celebes Sea in flames & presumed KIA. Aged 21. /QUOTE]

You may have already seen this, but in case not, 13 Squadron, RAAF, City of Darwin squadron.

Virtual War Memorial | No. 13 Squadron (RAAF)


Some images of 13 Sqn, among others.

13 squadron raaf - Bing images

Thanks for those Links Bob. I think I might have found him again. Not 100% sure as people change but it is a similar looking Crew Member as my other positive ID'd image taken at Wireless School RAAF Ballarat.

This one could be RAAF Darwin or Namlea. He'd be last on Right trying to spin the prop with his fingers.

PS. 'er indoors also thinks the resemblance is uncanny so I have banged off an E-mail to the AWM asking if their section can confirm the name of the Crew, especially the bloke on far right.


John with Hudson Crew. Far right..jpg

[QUOTE=4bee;3024388]

Originally Posted by bob10

Thanks for those Links Bob. I think I might have found him again. Not 100% sure as people change but it is a similar looking Crew Member as my other positive ID'd image taken at Wireless School RAAF Ballarat.

This one could be RAAF Darwin or Namlea. He'd be last on Right trying to spin the prop with his fingers.


John with Hudson Crew. Far right..jpg

Did you check out the list of 45 names. at least one is a 21 year old pilot KIA near Timor.

Virtual War Memorial | No. 13 Squadron (RAAF)

[QUOTE=bob10;3024400]

Originally Posted by 4bee

Did you check out the list of 45 names. at least one is a 21 year old pilot KIA near Timor.

Virtual War Memorial | No. 13 Squadron (RAAF)

Thanks but it wasn't John, him being a Wireless Air Gunner He was on another list though.

Geezuz the 12th Jan '42 was a bad day for 13 Sqdn over the Celebes/Menado. As a kid I can only vaguely remember him, me being only 6 years old.
Not sure whether it was him or his Army brother chucking up over the back sink through too much rationed West End Beer. It could have even been my old man.

The things memories are made of, eh?.


12.01.1942 No. 13 Squadron RAAF Lockheed Hudson II A16-67 Fl/Lt. Arthur Robert Barton, Namlea, Boeroe Island, Dutch East Indies (now Pulau Buru, Indonesia)



#3 Sgt. John Lake Mills.

[QUOTE=4bee;3024416]

Originally Posted by bob10

Thanks but it wasn't John, him being a Wireless Air Gunner He was on another list though.

Geezuz the 12th Jan '42 was a bad day for 13 Sqdn over the Celebes/Menado. As a kid I can only vaguely remember him, me being only 6 years old.
Not sure whether it was him or his Army brother chucking up over the back sink through too much rationed West End Beer. It could have even been my old man.

The things memories are made of, eh?.



12.01.1942 No. 13 Squadron RAAF Lockheed Hudson II A16-67 Fl/Lt. Arthur Robert Barton, Namlea, Boeroe Island, Dutch East Indies (now Pulau Buru, Indonesia)



#3 Sgt. John Lake Mills.

Probably all of them and anyone else desperate enough to consume the aforementioned liquid.

[QUOTE=4bee;3024416]

Originally Posted by bob10

Thanks but it wasn't John, him being a Wireless Air Gunner He was on another list though.

Geezuz the 12th Jan '42 was a bad day for 13 Sqdn over the Celebes/Menado. As a kid I can only vaguely remember him, me being only 6 years old.
Not sure whether it was him or his Army brother chucking up over the back sink through too much rationed West End Beer. It could have even been my old man.

The things memories are made of, eh?.


12.01.1942 No. 13 Squadron RAAF Lockheed Hudson II A16-67 Fl/Lt. Arthur Robert Barton, Namlea, Boeroe Island, Dutch East Indies (now Pulau Buru, Indonesia)



#3 Sgt. John Lake Mills.

Just a thought. I see John has his name on the AWM and also at Ambon. Here at Sandgate the Sub Branch along with the family , fought for many years to have the name of a soldier KIA in Korea added to our Cenotaph. He was buried in Korea but had no recognition locally. After a few years we were given permission to add his name and his family, some of whom still live in the area, said it was like bringing him home. It was closure for many of them. I don't want to open old wounds , just something to think about.

[QUOTE=bob10;3024600]

Originally Posted by 4bee

Just a thought. I see John has his name on the AWM and also at Ambon. Here at Sandgate the Sub Branch along with the family , fought for many years to have the name of a soldier KIA in Korea added to our Cenotaph. He was buried in Korea but had no recognition locally. After a few years we were given permission to add his name and his family, some of whom still live in the area, said it was like bringing him home. It was closure for many of them. I don't want to open old wounds , just something to think about.

John's name is also in the State War memorial on North Tce.


Quite right. The authorities know where to send the Call up papers when it suits them but as 'er indoors often says & her being from a long serving Military Artillery family, "the poor buggers were only to be used as Canon Fodder & I always seem to add "as well as some prominent Politician's whim & self serving desires".

My Mum couldn't accept that he was posted as "Missing", thereby giving her hope that "he was on some lonely island in the Timor or Celebes Sea but they didn't look hard enough". Have heard many stories of false hope (as probably have you) held by relatives for many years that those 'Missing' would turn up one day. Oddly I believed the same for years. Missing means they haven't been found & still alive, in their eyes. From what I know (from the Official RAAF history & other sources) I reckon his a/c hit the sea & broke up. I have read excerpts from people who were there, or say they were, & in whose opinion the Japanese machine gunned any survivors which seemed to be a favourite past time if they were bored & as occurred with many other atrocities by that nation. I won't even mention the tying up of Australian Soldiers & probably others, to Palm trees & being used as bayonet practice.

OOOPS seems I just did, Bugger!


Still, here we are today 78 years on & "all good fellows & jolly good company" but those of us who were alive then can still remember those days.


Right, what was the question?

[QUOTE=4bee;3024634]

Originally Posted by bob10

John's name is also in the State War memorial on North Tce.


Quite right. The authorities know where to send the Call up papers when it suits them but as 'er indoors often says & her being from a long serving Military Artillery family, "the poor buggers were only to be used as Canon Fodder & I always seem to add "as well as some prominent Politician's whim & self serving desires".

My Mum couldn't accept that he was posted as "Missing", thereby giving her hope that "he was on some lonely island in the Timor or Celebes Sea but they didn't look hard enough". Have heard many stories of false hope (as probably have you) held by relatives for many years that those 'Missing' would turn up one day. Oddly I believed the same for years. Missing means they haven't been found & still alive, in their eyes. From what I know (from the Official RAAF history & other sources) I reckon his a/c hit the sea & broke up. I have read excerpts from people who were there, or say they were, & in whose opinion the Japanese machine gunned any survivors which seemed to be a favourite past time if they were bored & as occurred with many other atrocities by that nation. I won't even mention the tying up of Australian Soldiers & probably others, to Palm trees & being used as bayonet practice.

OOOPS seems I just did, Bugger!


Still, here we are today 78 years on & "all good fellows & jolly good company" but those of us who were alive then can still remember those days.


Right, what was the question?

Not sure. I'd ask SWMBO, but it would probably relate to something I haven't done, so best to let sleeping questions lay.