| Accession Number | SEA0025 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Digri, Bengal, India. 1944-11-27. Because of a preponderance of Australian, New Zealand, Canadian ...
Description
Digri, Bengal, India. 1944-11-27. Because of a preponderance of Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and South African aircrews in No. 215 (Liberator) Squadron RAF, English Officers have started a 'Free English' movement. They wear 'Free English' flashes on their shoulders when in the mess, and on the bar is a sign which reads: 'Australian spoken, Canadian understood, English interpreter available.' Left to right, front row: Pilot Officr H. W. Wood of Calcutta, India; Flying Officer (FO) Lester Guest, RAAF of Bondi, NSW; Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) E. F. Coulin, RAAF of Newcastle, NSW; FO J. Williams of Vancouver, Canada; Lieutenant D. S. Michelmore of Randfontein, South Africa; FO R. S. Andrews, RAAF of Sandringham, Vic. Back row: Flt Lt G. B. Williams of Pontypridd, Wales; Flt Lt Roy Williams of Hawthorn, Vic; Squadron Leader C. V. Beadon of Surrey, England, one of the leaders of the 'Free English' movement; Leading Aircraftman R. V. (Taffy) Humphreys of Marthyr-Tydfil, South Wales, who is barman and the only member of the 'Free Welsh'; Flt Lt R. E. Grouse, RAAF of Randwick, NSW.