Sidney Sanders RIP

Kyt · Feb 15, 2009

RAF says farewell to war pilot, Sandy, 84 (From Echo)

A LONE bugler sounded Last Post at the funeral of a heroic and much-loved RAF airman who was buried on Canvey.

Sidney Sanders, or “Sandy” as he was known to friends, was a rear gunner in a Lancaster bomber in RAF Nine Squadron, which flew hundreds of bombing raids during the Second World War.

Squadron representatives and its flag carrier attended the funeral at St Nicholas’ Church, in Long Road, as a mark of respect to the airman.

Daughter Christine Eaton, landlady at the King Canute pub in Long Road, said: “Sandy used to love the island.

“He came down every weekend to see his grandchildren.

“He loved the fresh air and going out on the seafront to play football with my boys.

“He was both a father and a grandfather to them.”

But Sandy left his most permanent mark on history as an airman in the RAF.

His plane was involved in one of the most famous raids of the conflict.

The British surprised and sank the Tirpitz, one of Germany’s prize battleships, using bombs designed by the genius behind the Dambusters raid, Sir Barnes Wallis. According to Donald Burdge, RAF officer and family friend, it was Sandy’s aeroplane which dropped the only bomb to hit the Tirpitz, a crippling blow which meant it did not return to sea for the rest of the war.

Mr Burdge said: “The other airmen thought Sandy was lucky because he flew so many missions and kept coming back.

“It certainly seems he was lucky in this case.”

After the war he worked as a civil servant in several Government departments.

Sandy, who lived in Romford for much of his life, died aged 84, at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

He leaves behind his wife of 64 years Rachael Sanders, two children, Richard Sanders and Christine Eaton, and three grandchildren, Spencer Eaton, Elliot Eaton and Lloyd Sanders.
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Kyt · Feb 15, 2009

Seems it's not just the British government who are tight sods. The Australians aren't much better:

Heroes denied fare to service : thewest.com.au

War heroes could be forced to spend thousands of dollars if they want to fly to London next month for a ceremony to honour their deeds in World War II after the Federal Government refused to pay for their trips.

Plaques with the emblems of five Australian fighter squadrons and six bomber squadrons will be laid in the floor of the Royal Air Force Church in London to honour their bravery.

Australian Spitfire Association president Joseph Roberts said many surviving members of the three Spitfire squadrons, two Kittyhawk Mustang squadrons and six bomber squadrons could not afford the trip.

A Spitfire pilot with the Australian 457 squadron, Mr Roberts said he felt betrayed because the Government did not respond to his association’s request to pay for the veterans to attend the commemoration service.

“It’s devastating,” he said. “We thought we could expect some sympathy from our Government for fellows that volunteered to fight for the Allies in a very difficult time.

“Our casualties during the war were horrendous. I’d say 50 per cent of my friends didn’t come back.

“We just want to go and pay our last respects to those fellows who flew so gallantly.”

Spitfire pilot Russell Leith, who flew 224 missions and won the Distinguished Flying Cross, said it was important that representatives from each squadron were at the service.

“It would be appropriate for the Australian Government to fund two people to go and represent each squadron,” the 86-year-old Mosman Park resident said. “That’s 22 people maximum. That’s not unreasonable.”

He said RAAF bomber, fighter and ground crews all contributed in liberating France but not enough credit was given to the squadrons.

Mr Roberts said time was running out because veterans had to reply to their invitations this month.

Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said he was considering the request but guidelines made funding such an application difficult.

It would cost the Government about $250,000 to send 22 veterans to London for the ceremony and the request was among many for the Government to support similar activities for veterans.

“I need to be consistent and fair to all veterans of all services and conflicts,” he said. “There are currently more than 121,000 World War II veterans. If only 10 per cent of these veterans were given similar funding to what Mr Roberts has requested, it would cost $138.5 million.”
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$138.5 million? Considering the price paid by the veterans and the war dead that does seem cheap

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Sidney Sanders RIP

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