Jack Davenport 24 April 1943

Seventy years ago, Dundee, in Scotland, planned a ‘Wings for Victory Week’ which was set to open on Easter Saturday, 24 April 1943, with a forces’ march past. Led by the RAF Pipe Band, the parade would include detachments from the local Home Guard, the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, the Women’s Royal Naval Service, the Army Cadets, and the Women’s Land Army, as well as police, air raid precaution wardens and children’s groups, combined with representatives from the Navy and Air Force. 455 Squadron RAAF had been invited to form part of the air force contingent.

 Squadron Leader Jack Davenport decided that, at the conclusion of the ‘Wings for Victory’ parade, the squadron would march to the Dundee War Memorial for a wreath laying and commemoration ceremony. Jack put his idea to Flight Lieutenant Fred McKay, the Presbyterian padre who was spending a few days at Leuchars station where the squadron was based, who gladly agreed to conduct a special pre-Anzac Day service. He well knew the sacrifices the Australian squadrons had already made in the war and suggested appropriate music and words to honour those men.

 The opening day of ‘Wings for Victory Week’ was blustery and overcast but the local populace came out in their thousands to cheer the parade. Those lining the streets were ‘cheering and cheerful’ as they gave the procession its warmest welcome. After the parade, the squadron was bussed part way up Law Hill and Jack took Reverend McKay in his staff car. The boys alighted from their busses and regrouped. They marched the last few yards to the top of the hill to the strains of Oh! God Our Help in Ages Past. There they gathered around the Cenotaph where they experienced a panoramic view which encompassed the Firth of Tay and the city of Dundee. The grey skies were a fitting backdrop to the sombre occasion. It was a purely private ceremony; the public had not been invited to share in this personal commemoration. The pipers reprised Oh! God Our Help in Ages Past, with the boys now joining in, and Reverend McKay conducted a moving service. Jack read a lesson and then stepped forward to place a wreath on the Cenotaph, speaking a few words of remembrance as he did so. A lone piper then played a Scottish lament and the mournful bagpipe skirl filled the air. Perhaps Jack was reminded of his days serving in the 30th Battalion, New South Wales Scottish Regiment, which was affiliated with the famous Black Watch and its striking tartan formed a memorable part of the battalion’s battle dress.

 

 

(Jack Davenport, 30th Battalion)

 

 This ceremony beautifully, soberly and sincerely honoured the contribution of their fallen comrades. It did much to reinforce the squadron bonds, and was remembered for many years afterwards. The memory also remained in Jack’s heart. In the early 1990s, shortly after he and his wife Sheila had moved to their Mosman home, Jack hosted a reunion for his squadron ground crew. Recalling the pipers of that long ago ceremony, Jack’s guests were piped into their meal by a lone bagpipe player. Not, this time, to the strains of a sombre hymn, but to the skirls of a traditional march. The years fell away, memories stirred as the past returned and the already strong bonds strengthened as past deeds, sacrifices and friends were remembered.

 

 

 

 (Edited extract from Jack Davenport Beaufighter Leader, Allen & Unwin (2009) http://www.kristenalexander.com.au/books/jack-davenport-beaufighter-leader)

 

 

19 March 1941: Jack Davenport soloed at 5 EFTS Narromine

Jack Davenport arrived at 5 Elementary Flying Training School at Narromine, NSW on 6 March 1941. As well as almost daily flight instruction, the hectic training syllabus had a heavy course work component, which included armament lectures and technical work on engines. For Jack, there was no option but to work hard. It was the way to get on in life and it was the way to ensure that he would be sent overseas to play an active part in defeating the enemy. For him, the ' major consideration was to get there and become involved … That was what it was all about. I think it made people try very hard and apply themselves far more than otherwise would have been the case.' Jack was soon flying six days a week: he learnt climbing and steep turns, forced landings, all sorts of aerobatics, take off and landings, forced landings, side slips, gliding approaches and landings, and how to prepare to abandon his aircraft. He often flew on longer cross country exercises and carried out low flying exercises, with probably no idea of how low he would fly a few short years later when he would lead Beaufighter strikes flying at ‘nought feet’.

Jack took his first solo flight on 19 March 1941 and by the time he took his last flight in Tiger Moth A1789 on 26 April, the day after he completed his final assessment, he had flown 29 hours dual and 25.10 hours as pilot. He was assessed as above average. Jack always had a high degree of modesty; was never one for self aggrandizement and when he noted his achievement in his diary, he simply stated that he had ‘scraped a pass of 88%...luckily being first on course at flying’. Although Jack applied himself rigorously to his course work, his ground marks were not quite as good as his flying marks but, even so, when they were combined, he was third overall on the course.

 

 

 

Jack Davenport climbing into A17-86, one of 5 Elementary Flying Training School’s De Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moths.

Jack was recommended for bombers. This was just what he wanted. In a time when many young men had been influenced by the exploits of fighter aces and Battle of Britain veterans, Jack did not want to fly fighters. He ‘was rather keen to fly a multi-engined aircraft. I thought that this had more potential, I thought you were flying with somebody else for whom you were responsible and who had some responsibility towards you.’ As well as this, he relished the potential for personal challenge. He thought the demands of a bomber pilot were greater than those in a single-engine aircraft.