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SHADDICK Bartlett Parker DFM

Bartlett (Bart) was the son of Stephen Parker SHADDICK & Mary Catherine BIGGIN and was born on the 24th of August 1921 in Pingelly, WA.

He was the 1st child born into the family of 2 children.

His parents were married on the 17th of November 1920 in Beverley, WA.

His mother was the daughter of Henry BIGGIN & Margaret Ann CAMPBELL and was born on the 21st of March 1894 in Somerset, Tasmania.

His father was the son of John SHADDICK & Elizabeth Ann WALTON and was born on the 23rd of September 1888 in Beverley, WA.

His father was a farmer

Bart grew up in Pingelly.

At the age of 21, Bart enlisted into the RAAF on the 3rd of March 1941 and was allotted the service number 406682.

Four Pilot training courses were being conducted (Courses 10 – 13 of the Empire Air Training Scheme) at Pearce Initial Training School and Bart was allocated to 12 Course “New Wings”, progressing to 4 Service Training, RAAF Geraldton.

Bart could not march or drill, even after 'Killer' Mason had him on special drill time. However, when it came to shooting on the range he showed even the instructors how to obtain 10 bulls from 10 shots.

At the completion of pilot training at Geraldton SFTS in 1941 each course had a percentage posted directly overseas and others for duties in Australia. Following two weeks' leave, the overseas postings, Bart included, were assembled at 5 Embarkation Depot in Perth to await sailing directives.

In October 1941, postings were received for them to be sent to Sydney to join a ship bound for a destination overseas. The first leg of the journey began at the Perth Railway Station with sad farewells to wives, girlfriends and relatives and thoughts that it may be years before seeing each other again. The steam engine gave a whistle and a crowded train headed towards the East.

They spent ten days in No 2 Embarkation Depot, Lindfield, NSW before receiving news, that an overseas ship had accommodation for the group. No one knew where they were bound for - maybe the Middle East, USA or UK!

The only clue was that they were to proceed to Newcastle (NSW) and board a ship called the 'SS Themistocles'. On the 18th of November 1941, the ship sailed with an overseas contingent which included Bart and 23 members of 10-13 Courses.

Wednesday the 26th of November 1941 was a great day for Albany. The RAAF contingent paraded through the town and School children were given the morning off to see them and on the 29th of November they were all in Fremantle again. At this stage all the contingent had survived the first month of overseas service. “Little did they know that of this group of 24, fifteen would be killed within the next 12 months”. On the 5th of December, after anchoring a day in Gage Roads Fremantle to have a 4 inch gun mounted on the fore dock that they headed due west for South Africa.

They arrived at Durban on the 22nd of December 1941. During this time the world war situation had dramatically changed and Japan was in the war.

It was nearly Christmas and they made the most of a few days leave in Durban. Australians had a reputation - some good, some bad - mainly from the Army divisions going through to the Middle East. There were the usual things - cars being carried up the Post Office steps and left in the hall; pregnant girls enquiring how to contact Australians called “Syd Harbour” and the like who had passed through some months earlier in the AIF contingents.

Bart joined a slow 5 knot convoy which called at Sierra Leone on the 16th of January 1942. After being chased by submarines and turning out to their gun posts to shoot down German bombers (which turned out to be RAF Arvo Anson’s) they reached Liverpool on the 18th of February 1942, exactly 3 months after leaving Sydney.

Ninety days confined on one ship, exercising daily with deck sports, card games in the evenings, sleeping and eating.

When they arrived in the UK, they were bundled on a train in Liverpool, lunch in London, pass fields of snow and delivered to Bournemouth 3 Personal Reception Centre on the south coast all in the one day.

It was April 1942 before most of them were sent to Advanced Flying Units in England with the RAF, to become accustomed to European flying conditions and eventual postings to operational squadrons.

The pilots from 10 and 11 Courses were posted to the UK with the same contingent and only split when training at Flight Training Units.

Bart and his No. 12 Course contingent were posted to No. 15 Advanced (Pilot) Flying Training Unit in Oxford where they trained in Airspeed Oxfords.

On completion of his training, Bart was attached to 142 Squadron at RAF Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

In late September 1942, a period when the RAF was mounting the 1000 plane bombing raids on selected German targets, Bart sent a letter to his mate Bruce (Bruce Furze Gaston DFC) who he had trained with at No. 12 Course and was based at 86 Squadron RAF flying VLR (Very Long Range) 4 engine Liberator aircraft on Coastal Command anti submarine operations over the Bay of Biscay and the North Atlantic.

 “Dear Bruce, the news is not so hot. This joint letter was too late to be of any use to Pat (Sergeant Patrick Lawrence Looney 406694).

There were eight crews of us to start off with, and we did some operations with the Operational Training Unit. The Wimpy Wellington’s we had were not fit to fly in - they were damn near suicide.

The first trip was Dusseldorf, Germany on the 10th of September. At 2100 hours we took off from the RAF Station Wing, Buckinghamshire, Satellite airfield armed with 4 x 500 lb General Purpose bombs. We were caught in searchlights and a lot of flak and came down to 3000 feet over the target.

Three crews turned back, two because they couldn't get height and Bob Carson because his starboard throttle became disconnected.

Downs (Alexander Irvine Lewis Downs 403565) was piloting Wellington DV867, nothing was head from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft had been shot down at 0032 hours by a German night fighter and crashed between Stramproy and Hunsell (Limburg). All the crew members were killed.

Alexander was buried in the Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands.He was 25 years old.

On the 13th of September 1942, Bill (William John Percival Fletcher 406476) was piloting the Wellington L7815. They took off at 2331 hours from RAF Lichfield and carrying 4 x 500 lb (pound) (225 kg) GP (general purpose) bombs, was detailed to carry out an attack on Bremen, Germany. Within minutes of lifting off, the port engine began to falter and the crew made an immediate to base. Tragically, while turning finals, the aircraft spun out of control and crashed. A mere nine minutes had elapsed from the time of their departure. On impact the aircraft became a mass of flames and the crew of five were killed.

In the aftermath of the accident, a party of RAF ground staff were detailed to mount guard on the wreckage. At 0320 hours, there was a tremendous explosion and the four RAF members guarding the crash site were also killed.

Bill was buried in the St.Stephen’s Churchyard, Fradley, Staffordshire.

Our second trip was to Bremen. Several turned back (Pat because one motor caught fire) and the rest of us bombed without loss.

They then let Carson, a Canadian and myself out on leave, the other three pilots, including Pat, went to Essen.

I never saw Pat (Sergeant Patrick Lawrence Looney 406694) again; he was reported missing on the 16th of September, presumed shot down in a flying battle. He was attached to 26 Operational Training Unit, flying Vicker Wellington DV723. He had taken off from the RAF Station Wing, Buckinghamshire, Satellite airfield at 2019 hours on the 16th of September 1942 to attack Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base (Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1949 that the missing crew had no known grave).

This leaves four out of eight crews. It was murder!!

There's no future in the game!!

Bob Carson (a Canadian) and I arrived here a few days ago to find Max Jensen (Albrecht Maxwell Jensen 406567) already here. It's good to be with a few of the other chaps. Wimpy III's here, 1600 HP at take off, climb on one motor, four gun turret, electrically operated constant speed full feathering airscrews and all mod cons. Haven't done any work from here, but will probably soon be in it.

Well best of luck old boy. It's a bloody shame about Pat - he may have baled out and be safe. Don't think many of us will survive Night Bombers. Cheerio, Your old pal, Bart"

Unfortunately Bart's predictions came true. It was a period of particularly heavy loss and accounted for many other 10-13 Course aircrew losing their lives at a young age.

On the 15th of October 1942 Bart was recommended for an immediate DFM.

# The Citation for the immediate award of the DFM to Sgt Shaddick is as follows

“Sgt B P Shaddick (RAAF) was Captain of a Wellington bomber detailed to attack Cologne on the night of 15th October 1942. On the way to the target, his aircraft was engaged by anti-aircraft guns working in conjunction with searchlights and was hit in the starboard wing. Immediately afterwards, Sgt Shaddick smelt petrol and on inspection his gauges noticed that petrol from his starboard wing tanks was being lost at an alarming rate. Undaunted, he turned off the port tank and ran both engines on the starboard tanks until they were dry. While adjusting the fuel supply in this manner and although forced down several thousand feet, he carried on through heavy defences to his target which he bombed with success. The aircraft was hit in the port engine when over the target area, but, owing to his skilful piloting and sound judgement, he brought it home on one engine and crash-landed at Manston without injury to his crew. I recommend that his extreme devotion to duty and sterling determination in that he carried on to bomb his target, although seriously damaged on the outward journey and then flew the crippled aircraft home without loss to his crew is recognized by an immediate award of the DFM. “

Bart’s Station Commander remarked:Sgt Shaddick showed great determination in carrying on to attack the target in a damaged Aircraft and considerable skill in bringing the aircraft and crew safely home. Sgt Shaddick is a most enthusiastic young Australian who has instilled a high morale and cheerful spirit of dash into his crew.”

Sadly, only 9 days later, Bart and his crew were shot down and all killed. He was piloting the Wellington X3455 and they took off from RAF Grimsby at 1925 hours, on the detailed to bomb, Milano, Italy. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off, and it failed to return to base.

Bart was the only Australian in the crew of 5. The aircraft crashed in the North Sea west of the Island of Schouwen, and all the crew were killed. Their bodies all washed ashore along the Dutch coast and they were buried in various cemeteries in the Netherlands.

Bart’s body was found at Kijkduin.

Bart was buried in the The Hague (Westduin) General Cemetery, Netherlands. (Westduin is a suburb in the south west district of The Hague (Den Haag)). Row 2, Grave 38 and his headstone reads “His Duty Fearlessly and Noble done, Ever Remembered”.

Bart was 21 years old.