Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I am the oldest & last surviving grandchild of Charlie. The son of Gary Crosdale.
As a child I was told & taught about the stories of Charlie & how and amazing and dedicate man his was. The devastating loss of grandad & all the people on that fatal day was a major event in so many peoples live. My father Gary Crosdale was such an amazing man & Charlie's only son that he never got to see or hold. Dad was born with in an hour of the plane crash & the story was that on the early morning of that fatal day that my amazing Nana Rita Crosdale went into early labour with dad & Granddad Charlie had rushed Nana to the hospital & was about to cancel his flight mission for that day to be with his wife & about to be born son (My Dad) with Nana's final words to grandad was you have to go Charlie your mission is the most important. We will be fine. Charlie had just made it back to the base to prepare for the flight & when one of his friends on base found out about nana going into labour he immediately offered to take Charlie's place on that flight, but the flight schedule was too tight & there was no time for the paperwork to be changed or his friend to suit up and Charlie took his position on that plane knowing the condition of nana & the birth of dad on his mind. I have never been told or found out who grandads friend was on that day. But I certainly was admirable & thankful of that man's unselfish act & could not think of how if this had happened how different things may have been for our family, but I am certainly grateful that man did not lose his life. And as for my nana who could not have known at the same time, she was giving birth to my dad that the love of her life Charlie was not going to come home. Growing up & having my dad (Gary Crosdale) in my life was the most amazing thing & I knew & understood dad's pain of how not having his dad Charlie in his life was. Those days then life was so different & the sacrifices that people had to make were so great. I wonder how many people today would make these same sacrifices. Rest In Peace grandad. your story will never die with me. Your loving grandson Troy.