Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Danish, United Kingdom and Australian communities present, and most importantly the family members of the crew of Lancaster EE138.

Today, the 70th anniversary of the crash of EE138, is a special day and it is fitting that we come together to celebrate the lives of the airmen who volunteered, and eventually gave their lives to preserve the freedom we enjoy today.

This day, and the path that lead to this ceremony, are clear recognition of the value of their lives, the values they held important, and to the character of all the
individuals involved.

I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the character of the eight crew members of EE138, by reading a short extract developed from their diaries and mission
reports to give you an insight into the courage, commitment and dedication of these airmen.

This story covers five of the crew that formed a bond in training and learnt to place their trust in each other. These five men where later joined by Squadron Leader
Carl Richard Kelaher and Sergeant Arthur Rolfe for the flight on EE138.

The 6 crew members, Sidney, Ewin, Cyril, Herbert, John, Ernest, on the 27 June 1943, prior to converting to Lancasters, conducted a training mission to France. 
We pick up the story of Wellington 27OTU outward bound over the English Channel. The report goes:

    Outward bound, 6000 feet, cloud tops (cover) 10/10th, visibility 5-10 miles over the English Channel with cloud cover breaking up towards the French coast.

    At 0130 hours, whilst flying at 15000 feet, they identified the Jersey Island a few miles to the starboard or right wing. They encountered search lights and
    anti-aircraft fire and reported back 10-12 search lights and heavy machine guns targeting their formation. They did a circuit and passed in safety.

    Later they saw the Loire River another important marker for WOFF Ewin Carthew, the navigator. They photographed the river as part of the mission and then
    continue towards Tours.

    At 0221 hours, whilst at 15000 feet over Saumur, they encounter rocket fire just before reaching their target (Tours – France) where they observe ground haze or
    fog over the target and visibility of one mile. They drop the leaflets, containing articles from the daily news, before starting the return journey.

    On the return journey they are again caught in search lights as they approached the French Coast, but pass through safely.

    They cross the English Channel and know they are safe, as they break out of the clouds they identify the aircraft piloted by Joe Goodwin on fire.  Even in training
    these men were exposed to the dangers and realities of war.

    They land safely and complete the post mission reports. The crew graduates and is sent off to commence Lancaster conversion training.

These men, Carl and Arthur were all volunteers; all understood the risk of aviation and war. They showed the moral fortitude and courage required to willingly walk out
to their aircraft, start the engines and taxi, knowing that they or the aircraft to the left or right may not return. These airmen had faith in each others’ ability, the courage
of their conviction, and belief in their cause or simply put in ‘doing the right thing’.

This day reflects the unity and shared purpose of people from Denmark, UK, Australia and Europe in ‘doing the right thing’, and today is about ‘doing the right thing by
the airmen of EE138 and their families’.

Many of the stories of the soldiers, sailors and airmen of World War 2 remain untold even today, but their contributions are still important. The governments of the UK
and Australia have just recognized the contributions of some of these people with the Bomber Command Clasp and Battle of Atlantic Star.

Recognition, through the awarding of Medals, is important for those who take part in operations, and to their families as they recognize the importance of the
contribution of their husbands, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters, especially when they made the ultimate sacrifice.

For some of the families here today, the journey of obtaining their relatives medals has just begun, and for others they will be seeking the recently released clasp for Bomber Command.

Today we are privileged to be able to posthumously present the medals of FLGOFF Sidney Milton Forrester.

Sidney’s medals will be presented by the Australian Ambassador and will be placed on the Memorial denoting Sidney’s, and the crews, presence at today’s service
and connection to the community gathered.

The medals that will shortly be presented to Peter Forrester, Sidney’s nephew, are:

·        Air Crew Europe Star
·        1939 -1945 Defence Medal
·        War Medal 1939 – 1945
·        Australia Service Medal, 1939 – 1945
·        1939 – 1945 Star with Clasp “Bomber Command”

Some of the other crew members will also be entitled to some, or all, of these medals.

I would now like to invite the Ambassador for Australia, His Excellency, Mr Damien Miller, to present FLGOFF Sidney Milton Forrester’s medal to his nephew
Peter Forrester and place them on the memorial as part of this service.

Ode:
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”