Scotch College

A truly remarkable generation

It’s hard for us to imagine now what it must have been like for young Australians who in times of war have defended our way of life against implacable foes.

Words: Mr John Officer – Staff

As we reflect on another Anzac Day, I find myself thinking increasingly not only of those Australians who lost their lives in both world wars, Korea, Vietnam and other theatres of conflict around the world, but also those Old Scotch Collegians and other private-school boys who lost their lives in defence of our freedoms – freedoms which so many people around the globe do not enjoy. In particular I find myself drawn to the names of two Old Scotch Collegians on the World War II honour roll in the Memorial Hall: Robert Maxwell ‘Bob’ Harris and Gordon Brefney ‘Bill’ Littlejohn.

My late father, who served as a fighter pilot with 450 Squadron RAAF during the North African campaign in the second half of 1942 before being shot down and captured by the Germans, knew them both. He met Bill Littlejohn in December 1940 when they were both called up to go to initial training school in Sydney before being posted to the various flying schools around the country. Bill was to serve with 12 Squadron on Wellington bombers, and was killed in action during a raid over Germany on the night of 7 September 1942.

Bob Harris, on the other hand, was family. After the death of his first wife, Bob’s father married my great-aunt Freda. Bob was posted to the United Kingdom, where he became a Lancaster pilot, flying with 467 Squadron RAAF. He was killed in action over Holland on the night of 22 May 1944.

Not much older than many of our current Year 12 boys, they were faced with the enormous task of defending our way of life against an implacable foe. It is hard for us to imagine now what it must have been like for them. Growing up with my father and meeting so many of his mates, I was always very aware of how the war had affected their lives.

My father passed away some two and a half years ago, but fortunately before he died he wrote down his story. My brother and I have just recently self-published it under the title of Six O’Clock Diamond. With a foreword by Air Vice-Marshall Peter Scully AO, some 32 black and white photographs and four detailed maps of the European and Mediterranean theatres, it is a beautifully produced hard-bound book.

Dad’s remarkable ability to recall in detail the events in his life from 50 years before give a real insight into what it was like to be a frontline fighter pilot and a prisoner of war in the European theatre. For those interested in personal accounts of World War II it is a highly recommended read.

For more information go to www.sixoclockdiamond.com.au or contact me via email at jofficer@optusnet.com.au.

They were a truly remarkable generation. GS