Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Ogilvy & Sarah (known as Sarie) Andrew married in 1920 at Kyogle, NSW. By 4 Apr 1921 they were living at Memerambi and their first child David William, known as Dave, was born at Kingaroy. Also living at Memerambi in 1921 was Frank’s brother Reginald. Another 2 children born to Frank and Sarah. Connie in 1924 and Leslie in 1928. All 3 children attended Memerambi State School. Les was in the same class as Uncle Bert Kamholtz and as a little extra to the story, he accompanied my Mum Dulcie Jones (nee Kamholtz) at her debut in 1946. Dulcie’s brother Bert was to be her partner but he was in hospital suffering from Tetanus at the time.
Dave’s mother Mrs Sarie Ogilvy was very involved with the Womens Auxillary at Wooroolin and probably the Australian Comforts Fund. In 1957 Mrs Ogilvy was presented with a Gold Badge & Life Membership on the same day as my Grandmother Lizzie Jones. Grandma Lizzie was President and Mrs Ogilvy was Secretary. Many thanks to Glady Hood for sharing the newspaper article on this historic event as they were the first women in the South Burnett to receive the award.
On 26 Apr 1942, 21 year old, Dave Ogilvy enlisted in the RAAF at Brisbane.
His service records are available on the NAA website and show that before he enlisted in the RAAF he was a member of the 5th Light Horse Brigade as a Compulsory National Trainee. Interesting that he was recorded as “Davis” not David!
Dave trained at Sandgate, Evans Head, Maryborough, Bradfield Park and Ascot Vale before embarking from Melbourne on 6 Mar 1943 and arriving at Bournemouth, UK a month later. He served at Kinloss RAF base in Scotland for 2 months where he trained on Whitley Bomber aircraft He was transferred to Rufforth RAF base in Yorkshire in July 1943 where he rained on Halifax Bomber Aircraft.
Rufforth is just 30mins drive from the village of Pocklington where Dave’s future wife lived but I am jumping ahead!
The WW11 Nominal rolls show that Dave was a Flying Officer.. I discovered that the rank title does not imply that an officer in the rank of flying officer flies but that aircrew and engineer officers are commissioned directly into the rank of flying officer. Dave was an Air Gunner. An air gunner’s role was to use the aircraft’s machine-guns to fight off the enemy when under attack. Otherwise they assisted with observation and navigation, and often sent and received wireless signals.
In Oct 1943 Dave was transferred to the Middle East where he served at Tripoli, Libya until Jan 1944. His records show that he flew 42 sorties over 300 hours in Halifax bombers whilst in the Middle East.
He was then transferred to Brindisi, Italy where he flew 37 sorties over 241 hours.
In July 1944 Dave was transferred back to West Kirby, near Liverpool, UK. By Dec 1944 Dave was transferred to a Commission in the RAAF. This is probably when the second photo taken for his RAAF record.
He served at RAF Brackla in Scotland, RAF Cark in Cumbria & RAF Padgate, in Lancashire before returning to Australia on 9 Mar 1945. He flew over 117 training hours during this time but Feb 1945 was the time of the first major bombing of Dresden!
Most importantly Dave Ogilvy married Dorothy Rose Thomas on 20 Jan 1945 at Warter in Yorkshire, a village not for from Pocklington.
Dot Ogilvy travelled to Australia as a War Bride on the Empire Grace arriving Sep 1945. She is included in a photo of several other war brides in the book “Overseas War Brides – Stories from the women who followed their hearts to Australia”.
The book contains stories of the girls who took on an adventure into the unknown. After whirlwind courtships, weekend weddings and long sea voyages they arrived in an unfamiliar landscape. This is an important social record capturing the essence of Australia’s pioneering spirit.
Dot & Dave lived on their farm near to the Jones Farm at Wooroolin and were very involved in the local community. Their children Sue & John attended Wooroolin School. I have many memories of them as I grew up but when I went to the UK in 1976 the Ogilvy support was amazing. I stayed with Dots mother at Pocklington, Yorkshire and used her place as a base until I got settled. About 1980 Dot & Dave came to the UK to visit Dots Mum and I was able to go to Heathrow Airport in my car and take them to Liverpool St Station to catch the train. Whenever he saw me after that Dave always mentioned how I drove through London traffic.
Dave was a member of the Wooroolin Tingoora RSL from the beginning in 1947 until its closure in the early 1990’s. He shared the 1947 photo of the visit by Sir Raymond Huish to Wooroolin and provided all the names.
I am sure he was in the first March 1948 but not to be seen in the only known photo.
The Wooroolin Tingoora Highland Gathering & Sports Day was a huge event each year. The effort by this group of men & women was amazing. It was a long day from around 4am until after the dance at night as well as the lead up to and the clean up after.
Dot & Dave retired to Caloundra in 1995. Their 70th wedding anniversary was featured on Channel 9 in 2015.
About 2013 Dave came back to Wooroolin and marched at the Anzac Day Parade. What a feat for a man in his 90's. I can’t find my photos of that day but an amazing act of stamina!
He was a huge influence on the young men of Wooroolin when he restarted the Scout movement there during the 1970’s with Stuart Horne. Dave died on 15 Apr 2016 and his funeral at Caloundra was attended by many of his boy scouts.
Thank you for the memories Dave Ogilvy. You did not make the 100 mark but it looks like your wife may do – only 71 days to go!
Lest We forget