A life shaped by the scary odds of a rear gunner
The Age
Saturday March 19, 2011
EDWIN FRANK CHAMBERLAINOFFICE ADMINISTRATOR14-2-1923 31-1-2011TED Chamberlain, who died of a heart attack at Wesley Vale in Tasmania, aged 88, was never one not to see the funny side of life and with good reason.On a flight to Frankfurt in 1985, he and his wife, Patricia, were seated next to a German couple of the same generation. As they were about to land, the man asked Ted if he had been to Germany before."Yes, yes, many times," he replied. "How many times?" probed the man. "38 times." "So, business or pleasure?" "Business, strictly business, no pleasure about it," answered Ted, adding: "It was in 1943-44." As the plane touched down they all burst into laughter.Ted, who was born in Mount Gambier, was a flight sergeant during World War II, and flew eight missions with the 640 Squadron before joining the 158 Squadron, where he survived a full tour of 30 operations as a rear gunner in Halifax bombers.Signing up in Australia in 1942 just shy of his 19th birthday, he was transferred to the RAF and within a year was involved in bombing raids on the heavily defended Ruhr. He also flew two missions on D-Day, receiving the Medaille du Jubile for his "contribution towards the freedom of Europe".Medics would be on hand after aircrew briefings to offer uppers when the Ruhr was the target, and again to dole out downers when (or if) the airmen returned. The drugs were so effective that airmen would inevitably soil themselves on their way back to base. "Nobody would say anything because at one stage or another everybody did [mess themselves]," Ted said. Each mission against the Ruhr claimed 30 per cent of the aircrew, a grim statistic that no doubt shaped his attitude to life.His military record had the odd blemish: a few AWOLs and a demotion after "borrowing" an army vehicle to go to the nearby village for "a few celebratory drinks".After the war Ted got a job in administration at Spicers, the paper merchants, where he worked until he retired about 25 years ago. He also felt the need to add some colour to Melbourne, which he found drab and boring. His attempt to liven up a Guy Fawkes night ended in him burning his eyebrows and hair. Luckily he had not been assigned to explosives during the war.In 1964, he married his Mount Gambier primary school sweetheart, Patricia Cusack (nee Mansell).Ted, whose ashes are to be scattered in Sussex, where many of his wartime mates had their last glimpses of England, is survived by his son Patrick, stepchildren Carole, Sheila and Michael, and grandchildren.
© 2011 The Age
