Week 26

Week 26 In Wijnjewoude

Not much this week, at least in the way of photos. (Must have been too busy!)

We had a "required" meeting with personnel and clients (we're supposed to do this officially at least 4 times a year and make a record of it)

Everybody happy? Of course! We also discussed various activities and projects, mostly ongoing, but also a couple of new items. Going cycling as a group, for example. (I might have to stay home with those that don't feel up to it...)

Occasional fishing days - which we have done before.

Actually finishing a few of our ongoing projects.

We're all a bit sick of the Caronavirus regulations, but things are loosening up. The main items that we still have to adhere to are the hand-washing and 1.5m "social distancing".

We have started again with kids sleeping over - we have a couple of new kids who did it for the first time this weekend. One of them is quite keen to be a bit of a worker/helper - he had his first tractor lesson and helped me put in a new workbench in the workshop. He can already speak a bit of English so we started using it for pratice.

We also had a visit from an ex-client - one of the young boys now growing up a bit. His parents have split up and one of them is living within cycling distance. Nice that he still feels comfortable with us.

The Bucket List

I only ever have a couple of items in my bucket and one is about to be crossed off - leaving just ONE!

Not very adventurous, I guess....Or, relatively content with my lot....mmm?

Anyway, thanks to Ben showing a bit of initiative in organising everything, we're driving up to Hamburg this coming week to visit an Uncle's War Grave.

Pilot Officer Gerald Ware COPELAND 

Service No: 406548
Born: Kalgoorlie WA, 16 June 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1941
Unit: No. 78 Squadron (RAF), RAF Croft, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations: Bombing Technique (No. 78 Squadron Halifax aircraft W7662), Germany, 4 May 1942, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Hamburg Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Edward and Lenna Grace Copeland, of Perth, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Kalgoorlie WA
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA

Halifax W7662 took off from RAF Croft at 2254 hours on the night of 3/4th May 1942, detailed to bomb Hamburg, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft crashed at Lunburg Heath and six of the crew were killed with Pilot Officer Hanna becoming a Prisoner of War.

The crew members of W7662 were:

Pilot Officer Gerald Ware Copeland (406548) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Dennis Waterman Drew (1208196) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot)
Pilot Officer J E Hanna (115854) (RAF) (Rear Gunner) PoW
Pilot Officer Alfred William Hedge (400588) (Pilot)
Sergeant John Hewitson (1180812) (RAFVR) (Observer)
Sergeant Frederick Roberts Hipwell (182913) (RAF) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant John Archibald Lloyd (1256600) (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)

Sergeant Hanna later reported: “The aircraft was hit during enemy action and Sergeant Hewitson was wounded. I heard the Captain tell Pilot Officer Copeland to attend to the wounded man.  Hewitson was badly wounded in two places. Soon after one of the engines caught fire and the Captain gave the order to adjust Hewitson’s chute and get him clear of the aircraft.  Shortly the Captain ordered abandon Aircraft which I did. I saw the aircraft crash and I think I saw one of the wings come off, which may account for the others failing to escape.”

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/98/498

Bibliography:

Gaston, Bruce DFC (406646), Harry Horner DFC OAM (406595), Raymond Storer (406666) (Editors), Aircrew for the Duration: of and by members of RAAF EATS Courses 10, 11, 12 & 13, Gaston Horner and Storer, Nedlands WA, 1990

Quite amazingly, this site has 60 pages of documents and photos...

https://naa12.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1056326&S=1

Even of an envelope addressed to another brother. I was only 5 at the time but I remember "Uncle Theo" came over to help Mum with the funeral arrangements of my own father. That was in 1956 - so Theo must have had it tough losing two brothers like that. 

(A few years ago, I was worried about our father's War Grave at the Necropolis, Springvale. I had made enquiries but as Uncle Theo had made all the arrangements, it had to be Next of Kin to him that could legally do anything. The fact that they (the Next of Kin) were from Perth made it all too hard to arrange, but luckily I found out that the relevent section of the War Graves was going to be repaired and renewed "in perpetuity" as they say.)

The record doesn't say which person in the photo is Gerald Ware Copeland, but I can see a family resemblance  3rd from the left front row. Maybe one of my brothers will know?

and boaty things...

We bought a new flagpole for the boat, but it sticks out above the roof line! So it would have to be removed every time we go under a low bridge!

So we made a new bracket for it - yet to be tested. And a new flag - the old one was too small we thought - it's a proportion thing. I did learn that the proper boating flag has a much darker blue. Not sure why, but it is official, apparently.

Recycled bicycle! I might yet have to cut off some of the flagpole.

(Frank sent a new Australian flag over ( he was going to bring it for the Paris Adventure - but that plan got sunk by the virus) - but somehow or other it made it to Customs over here but was then sent back to Frank in Australia - Track and Trace last showed it in Strathfield (NSW).

We have no idea why....)

The leaking aft porthole proved to be an expensive exercise... I have a new rubber in it but am still reluctant to actually open it. It is at such an angle that water will run in if it is left open or not sealed properly...and it is always "going to rain" here.

We have been thinking about it for a while and then actually saw one last week! So, that will be next year's little project!

We had some hot, humid weather during the week - this chap "became unwell" and crashed his boat...I can't find it again, but I did see a photo of the the boat being raised. Not sure about the unwell chap...