Our August 2019 Lecture - Hurricanes to Russia

-
Denis Smith’s talk could also be sub-titled ‘the story of a RAAF fighter pilot with RAF 151 Wing’. It tells the largely unknown story of HMS Argus, the aircraft carrier which transported 24 RAF Hurricane fighter planes to Russia in 1941. Around 3,000 Hurricanes followed in subsequent convoys, promised by Churchill to Stalin.

One of the pilots was an Australian RAAF fighter pilot, Denis’s close friend ‘Nat’ Gould. His other nickname was ‘Natski’ after his time flying in Russia. Conditions in the Russian winter were very harsh but when the Japanese came into the war, Nat returned to Australia and flew Kittyhawks at Milne Bay, as well as Spitfires, Seafires, Mustangs, SeaFuries, Fireflies, Vampires and Hellcats to name a few.

Denis will be presenting with the assistance of a documentary special film made for prime time Russian TV in 2016 called "Arctic Brotherhood" for the 75th Anniversary of the first Arctic Convoy to Russia. The documentary is dubbed into English. He will also have a copy of Nat's Flight Log when he was taking off from HMS Argus.

Denis was born in Sydney. He is now a retired electrical engineer having run his own company with over 40 employees. His uncle flew Sunderlands with 10 Squadron RAAF in England during World War 2, which aroused his interest in military history. His close friend ‘Nat’ Gould talked him into joining the Spitfire Association, and he also joined the Aviation Historical Society. He is past president of the Lane Cove Historical Society (received an OAM), Vice-President of the Fellowship of First Fleeters, Vice-President of the Matthew Flinders Society of Australia, and a member of the American Civil War Round Table of Australia.

Time & Venue: Saturday, 3 August 2019, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Goulburn Room, Level 4, City of Sydney RSL, 561-567 George Street, Sydney CBD. Admission is free of charge but a gold coin donation would be appreciated. For information call 0419 698 783 or email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au       

Nat Gould and Denis Smith laying a wreath on the Cenotaph at Martin Place, Sydney, for the Battle of Britain anniversary on behalf of the Spitfire Association. 

 The Society's website is here: militaryhistorynsw.com.au

Why not join the Society?  Visit the website's membership page here: http://militaryhistorynsw.com.au/home/membership/  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bathurst RSL Letter on Bathurst Boer War Memorial - Lt Peter Handcock

-
Image
Lt Peter Handcock O n Anzac Day this year journalist Peter FitzSimons wrote an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald calling for the removal of the name of Lieutenant Peter Handcock from the Bathurst, New South Wales, Boer War Memorial on the ground that he was a convicted war criminal, for which he was executed by firing squad alongside Lieutenant Harry "Breaker" Morant  in South Africa on 27 February 1902. Handcock was a Bathurst district local. James Unkles is an author, former naval reserve officer, military and civilian lawyer, and campaigner for a pardon for Morant, Handcock and the third convicted man, George Witton. On 30 May 2021 James posted a response to FitzSimons on his website. The response notes that on 4 May 2021 the Bathurst Sub-Branch of the RSL wrote to Bathurst Regional Council, which controls the monument, opposing the removal of any names from the Memorial. A copy of the letter is reproduced below. Bathurst Regional Council has declined to re
Read more

Second World War Tour 2025: Anzac Day in Athens - Greece and Crete

-
Image
  On the 6 April 1941 the German Army launched its attack against the Greeks on the Metaxas Line and the Imperial Expeditionary Force at Florina. The Allied force was pushed off Greece by 28 April and so began the Battle of Crete. Join our memorial tour lead by Lt-Colonel Ron Lyons (retd), Vice President, Military History Society of NSW, in conjunction with Battlefield History Tours, to Greece and Crete visiting the battlefields where the 6th Division and the New Zealand Division confronted the German Army. This is a special tour developed for the very special purpose that we hope will, in a small way, ensure that this part of Australian and New Zealand history is not forgotten. As we visit the battle sites, each with an informative briefing, we will meet the local dignitaries who maintain our military heritage and pay our respects at the resting places of our fallen. ABOUT BATTLEFIELD HISTORY TOURS www.battlefieldhistorytours.com.au Battlefield History Tours is one of Australia’s lead
Read more

Statement on the Vandalisation of Public Monuments and War Memorials

-
Image
  STATEMENT ON THE VANDALISATION OF PUBLIC MONUMENTS AND WAR MEMORIALS The following statement was adopted by the Council of the Military History Society of New South Wales at their meeting on Monday, 28 October 2024: As a body dedicated to preserving and honouring our state’s military heritage, the Military History of New South Wales is disturbed by continuing instances of defacement, vandalism and misuse of historical public monuments, including war and veterans memorials. Acts of physical destruction as a means of political expression should be condemned unreservedly. These attacks represent an infringement of community rights. They are an illegitimate substitute for the democratic processes by which these monuments are properly managed with broad popular consent. This is true even if controversy surrounds the monument in question. In the case of war memorials, the attacks dishonour the sacrifice, and insult the relatives, of those who gave their lives for the precious freedoms
Read more