The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (402745) Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton VC, 149 Squadron RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Charis May, the story for this day was on (402745) Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton VC, 149 Squadron RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

402745 Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton VC, 149 Squadron RAF
KIA 29 November 1942
Photograph: 100641

Story delivered 29 November 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton VC of 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

Rawdon Middleton, known as "Ron", was born on 22 July 1916 at Waverly in Sydney, a great-nephew of explorer Hamilton Hume. He attended school in Dubbo, becoming a keen sportsman and later finding work as a Jackaroo.

Middleton enlisted in the RAAF on 14 October 1940 under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Having learnt to fly at Narromine in New South Wales, Middleton was sent to Canada and then onto Britain in September 1941. He was respected for his thorough approach to work and was described by a mate as "the quietest and most unassuming chap I ever knew". He was promoted to flight sergeant later that year.

In February 1942 Middleton was posted to 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force, and began his operational career. Regularly flying Short Stirling bombers on missions into enemy territory was a dangerous business, but Middleton's crew always "maintained confidence in him", and he was promoted to captain by July 1942.

On 28 November 1942 he took off in "H for Harry", on his 29th operation, to the Fiat works in Turin, Italy. Middleton's aircraft was struck by flak over the target and one shell exploded in the cockpit, destroying his right eye. The same shell also wounded the second pilot and wireless operator. Middleton lost consciousness and the aircraft dived to just 800 feet before the second pilot brought it under control. They were hit by more flak as they tried to escape.

When Middleton regained consciousness his damaged aircraft had insufficient fuel to complete the journey over the Alps to England, and the crew discussed the possibility of abandoning the aircraft or trying to land in northern France. Middleton decided to press on for England, where his crew would have the chance to bail out. When approaching the English coast with only five minutes of fuel left, Middleton ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. Five men left the stricken plane, and two remained on board to help Middleton before attempting to parachute to safety. Unfortunately, both were drowned, and when the Stirling crashed into the sea Middleton, too, lost his life. He was only one operation away from completing his first tour with Bomber Command.

Middleton's body washed ashore at Dover on 1 February 1943. He was buried in the churchyard of St. John's, Beck's Row, Suffolk, with full military honors. Australian nurse Doris Walsh attended the funeral of her friend, placing a sprig of wattle on his casket as a simple but poignant reminder of home.

Middleton was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross, noting: "his devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds is unsurpassed in the annals of the Royal Air Force". This was the first Victoria Cross awarded to a member of the Royal Australian Air Force in the Second World War.

Rawdon Hume Middleton's name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with about 40,000 others from the Second World War. His photograph is displayed alongside the Pool of Reflection.

This is one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.