William Gove Story

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THE ARNHEM Courier

Memorial Service for William Gove

Bill Gove and his sons, Tom and Charlie, were guests of honour at a memorial service at the Cenotaph to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Flight Sergeant William Gove, killed during active service. The visit by the son and grandsons of William Gove was organised by Nabalco on behalf of the participants of the Gove Joint Venture (Swiss Aluminium Australia Limited and Gove Aluminium Limited. The service was held at 11:00am on Tuesday 20th April, and was conducted by R.S.L. president John O'Brien. This week marks the 50th anniversary of the untimely death of Flight Sergeant William Gove in a RAAF Hudson bomber near Milingimbi in 1943.

In the early hours of April 20th 1943, Gove's aircraft and another Hudson of No.2 Squadron took off from Milingimbi on a bombing raid to the Japanese-held Dutch East Indies. 'Gimbi', as it was referred to then, was often used as a refuelling base in order to extend the range of the Hudson's. Shortly after the take-off a loud explosion was heard over the radio. and both aircraft crashed on an island nearby. There were no survivors from either aircraft. and it was assumed that they had collided in cloud.

Bill Gove came from the Melbourne suburb of Yarra. and followed his father Robert into the RAAF at the outbreak of war. His first choice, like most young men, was to become a pilot, but a migraine condition forced him out of pilot training. In order to remain in aircrew. he opted for air navigation, and graduated as Sergeant Navigator.

Life was not all flying, and he married Patricia Derham in Melbourne in June 1942. Gove was then posted to No. 2 Squadron RAAF at Batchelor NT, which was then carrying out antisubmarine patrols in the Timor Sea, and bombing raids against the Japaneseheld installations in NEI. These patrols sometimes took over eight hours and the aircraft were flying at their extremes of endurance.

The aircraft often patrolled singly, and at low level, in order to escape detection. Despite the best precautions. a number of lightly-armed Hudson's were lost to enemy action during 1942 and 1943. Following the RAAF's practice of naming their new bases after airmen who had died in action, the new base built in the Melville Bay area was called Gove.

Subsequently in the post-war period the entire peninsula became known as Gove, even though the base ceased operations in August 1945.

Reverend Ken Smalle led the memorial service with the prayer of remembrance. He spoke of William Gove and many others who had given their lives so that we could live in freedom. Wreaths were laid by Graeme Dunne on behalf of R.S.L.. Bill Gove in memory of his father. Major Smith for Norforce. Alan Dundas representing Nabalco. Jim Fitzgerald representing the community. John Price and Margaret Fitzgerald for the Scouting and Guiding movement. Margo Stewart for Girls Brigade and the Police Aides representing the Indigenous People. The Last Post and Reveille were played by bugler Alan Flaming and the Ode of Remembrance was recited by John O'Brien. The flags were raised by flag orderlies Private Ruth McCandless and Private Phil Herdman. After the lords Prayer. John O'Brien commended Nabalco for showing so much compassion, before William Gove Jnr unveiled a commemorative plaque which will be permanently based at the Cenotaph.

Argus, the now defunct newspaper from Melbourne

This is a very interesting article. If you read the whole document you will see that the censors were working well in 1944. Find out if you can find censored story we will be happy to recive an email from you!

Hint: It's concerning William Gove.. of course!