THE DAY BERT CAME TO TOWN
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:25 pm
THE DAY BERT CAME TO TOWN ... Maureen Clifford ©
I’m sure you must have heard of Bert - the birdman of the skies.
A flyer of renown we can't ignore,
A young boy born at Bundaberg in eighteen ninety two,,
he worked with sugar, but he craved for more.
He joined the Queensland aero club – built gliders of his own,
then test flew Sopwith planes from England’s shore..
When war began he joined the Naval Service and this boy
knew how to shoot a rifle. Perfect score.
To use his talent they gave him a special job to do
escorting bombers all the way from fields of France.
A Sopwith Strutter and a bloke who knows just how to fly -
it was doubtful that those Germans stood a chance.
He claimed that as a gunner he had downed six German planes
though documented proof is somewhat thin.
The blokes he flew with knew the truth, he was content with that;
in war – he couldn’t see it as a sin.
He saw the war out, stationed somewhere out in Italy
no doubt that’s where he hatched his daring plan
to cross the Alps from Croyden to Turin in just nine hours
way back in 1920 - what a man.
Britannia Trophy was the winner’s prize - and his alone.
but he longed to see again his big brown land.
But fate just turned against him so he shipped his Avro home
and felt he had missed something rather grand.
He flew across the world in many places through the years,
awards were won to add to his collections;
but finally in twenty eight he made a solo flight
home to Bundaberg and family connections.
His feat of daring saw the Air Force Cross as his reward.
The money that the Government chipped in
was welcome; unexpected though, it surely was a help,
a grudging recognition now of him.
They also made him squadron leader with the RAAF reserve
this honour quite surprising that’s for sure.
He was a local hero, one who’d done his country proud
and brought glory back to knock on Bundy’s door.
One day Bert just decided he’d take Avro Avian out
and ended up in Stanthorpe. Don’t know why.
He landed just outside of town. The locals were impressed,
Pierpoint’s the only place with fuel to buy.
They folded back the Avro’s wings then pushed her on the field
over the grass and traprock into town,
and parked her at Pierpoint Garage as it was known back then
June nineteen twenty eight was written down..
Why did he come to Stanthorpe on that thirteenth day in June?
The reason why is cloaked in mystery.
The one and only time that he had ever ventured there
is chronicled in Stanthorpe’s history.
They never named a street for him, not even park or pub.
Was this because of awe in touching fame?
The landing place is clear enough though covered now with homes
but other things are very much the same.
By Quartpot Creek’s green grassy banks Pierpoint still stands today
some folks heard to say ‘never’ others ‘maybe’.
The photo on the wall proves beyond doubt he was in town
the picture shows him fuelling Avro ‘Baby’.
I’m sure you must have heard of Bert - the birdman of the skies.
A flyer of renown we can't ignore,
A young boy born at Bundaberg in eighteen ninety two,,
he worked with sugar, but he craved for more.
He joined the Queensland aero club – built gliders of his own,
then test flew Sopwith planes from England’s shore..
When war began he joined the Naval Service and this boy
knew how to shoot a rifle. Perfect score.
To use his talent they gave him a special job to do
escorting bombers all the way from fields of France.
A Sopwith Strutter and a bloke who knows just how to fly -
it was doubtful that those Germans stood a chance.
He claimed that as a gunner he had downed six German planes
though documented proof is somewhat thin.
The blokes he flew with knew the truth, he was content with that;
in war – he couldn’t see it as a sin.
He saw the war out, stationed somewhere out in Italy
no doubt that’s where he hatched his daring plan
to cross the Alps from Croyden to Turin in just nine hours
way back in 1920 - what a man.
Britannia Trophy was the winner’s prize - and his alone.
but he longed to see again his big brown land.
But fate just turned against him so he shipped his Avro home
and felt he had missed something rather grand.
He flew across the world in many places through the years,
awards were won to add to his collections;
but finally in twenty eight he made a solo flight
home to Bundaberg and family connections.
His feat of daring saw the Air Force Cross as his reward.
The money that the Government chipped in
was welcome; unexpected though, it surely was a help,
a grudging recognition now of him.
They also made him squadron leader with the RAAF reserve
this honour quite surprising that’s for sure.
He was a local hero, one who’d done his country proud
and brought glory back to knock on Bundy’s door.
One day Bert just decided he’d take Avro Avian out
and ended up in Stanthorpe. Don’t know why.
He landed just outside of town. The locals were impressed,
Pierpoint’s the only place with fuel to buy.
They folded back the Avro’s wings then pushed her on the field
over the grass and traprock into town,
and parked her at Pierpoint Garage as it was known back then
June nineteen twenty eight was written down..
Why did he come to Stanthorpe on that thirteenth day in June?
The reason why is cloaked in mystery.
The one and only time that he had ever ventured there
is chronicled in Stanthorpe’s history.
They never named a street for him, not even park or pub.
Was this because of awe in touching fame?
The landing place is clear enough though covered now with homes
but other things are very much the same.
By Quartpot Creek’s green grassy banks Pierpoint still stands today
some folks heard to say ‘never’ others ‘maybe’.
The photo on the wall proves beyond doubt he was in town
the picture shows him fuelling Avro ‘Baby’.
It always amazes me how they flew at all 