Australian PM visits Berlins 1939-45 War Cemetery

**Antipodean Andy** · 07-07-2009, 08:59 PM

World News Australia - Rudd honours war dead in Berlin

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has paid tribute to the millions of Jews killed during the Holocaust and Australian airmen killed in daring bombing raids over Berlin during World War II.

Mr Rudd arrived in the German capital on Tuesday for the start of a five-day European tour, which will culminate at talks with world leaders in Italy about ways to push forward with a recovery plan for the global economy and climate change.

The prime minister's first stop was the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery where he laid poppies on the headstones of three Australian RAAF airmen buried there.

Flight Lieutenant Frederick King, Pilot Officer Rochester Hart and Warrant Officer Laurence Collins were all aged in their early 20s when they were killed during daring bombing raids over Berlin in 1944 and 1945.

"These guys had guts," Mr Rudd said after laying a poppy on Warrant Officer Collins' headstone.

Mr Rudd made a quick visit to the Bellevue Palace, where he was officially welcomed to Germany by President Horst Kohler, before embarking on a sombre tour of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in the city's centre.

The memorial, which was opened in 2005, features 2,700 grey concrete plinths of varying sizes dotted over a 19,000sq metre piece of land squeezed between the East and West Berlin of the Cold War.

Mr Rudd was given a private guided tour of the plinths and the memorial's information centre, dedicated to the memories of the Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust and those who miraculously survived.

"Each time you stop at places like this you think of the death of the innocents and any human being's response from the pit of their stomach," Mr Rudd told reporters as he left the memorial.

"This is a very sober and sombre place and may it never happen again."

Mr Rudd is due to meet his German counterpart Angela Merkel and hold bilateral talks with Germany's Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck later on Tuesday.

**Antipodean Andy** · 07-07-2009, 09:11 PM

Frederick John King of 12 Squadron lost on March 25, 1944.
Rochester Warren Lee Hart and Laurence Collins - both of 101 Squadron lost on January 16, 1945.

Hart, it would appear, was known as Warren.

Warrant Officer Laurence Collins - 101 Squadron
Sergeant John McDowell - 101 Squadron

**spidge** · 07-08-2009, 09:30 AM

A few shots of their headstones.

100_1619.jpg

Hart_WRL.jpg

Collins_L.jpg

**berkyboy** · 07-29-2009, 08:22 PM

Hi Spinge,
This is the first time I have used this site. I came across your photos of the three Australians visited by the Aust. PM. I was interested because W/O Laurence COLLINS is my brother & I notice the date 20/10/2008,, and wondered how you got the photos-Warren Hart was on the same plnne,LM472,Code V2. I have been trying to trace Laurie's story, but have had many difficulties because of brick wall called "privacy laws".
I have been able to trace 6 of the 8 crew members' families . Do you have any clues in tracing crew members' histories? I live in Melbourne Australia,
Berkyboy

**spidge** · 07-30-2009, 05:04 PM

Hi Berkyboy,

I live in Melbourne as well.

What have you done to contact the families of these two men? (I am assuming you are trying to contact the families of Beckett and Conroy.)

With respect to the photos, I have over 8,500 photos of RAAF and Aussies in the RAF from around the world.

Cheers

Geoff

**berkyboy** · 07-30-2009, 09:45 PM

Hi Spidge,(Geoff)
I live in Mt Waverley-I have tried through official channels,newspapers, Churches, Ministers of religion,Local governments,phone books, Historical societies, Ex RAF/RAAF Organisations including 101 Squadron, lots of web sites, Personal letters, (prayed) etc. Recently I had an enquiry from the pilot's newpew who responded to a newspaper article published in 2007!-so I try not to give up hope.
Including my brother, I have been able to contact 6 out of 8 crew members-3 Aussies(Sydney, Mackay,Ballarat), 2 RAF-(Scotland & Nth Ireland), 1 RCAF (Otario- Canada) but the final 2 RAF mens families elude me.The Lancaster they were in included ABC equipment, so that is why there was 8 crew members instead of the usual 7
Regards & Best Wishes
Berkyboy (Ray)

**berkyboy** · 09-16-2009, 02:54 AM

Hi Geoff, I have been trying to find the name of the ship my brother embarked from Melbourne, 287 September 1943, & arrived SanFrancisco, 16 October 1943 & how he went to UK from USA, arriving 9 Nov 1943. Do you have any thoughts on the matter. I have tried-National Arcives-Dept Veterana Affairs,-Port of Melbourne-Aust War Memorial,-RAAF Museum- Museum Victoria, all without help,
Ray

**spidge** · 09-16-2009, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by berkyboy

Hi Geoff, I have been trying to find the name of the ship my brother embarked from Melbourne, 287 September 1943, & arrived SanFrancisco, 16 October 1943 & how he went to UK from USA, arriving 9 Nov 1943. Do you have any thoughts on the matter. I have tried-National Arcives-Dept Veterana Affairs,-Port of Melbourne-Aust War Memorial,-RAAF Museum- Museum Victoria, all without help,
Ray

Hi Ray,

You have looked in most places. Seems strange as all ww1 shipping details are on line so these must be there somewhere.

I don't know anywhere else to look however someone might.

Cheers

Geoff