Rememberance Day 2022- The Ross Stanford Story

The Unofficial Test Matches-Australia and England

At the end of the 2nd world war there were some unofficial cricket test matches between the actual England test team and teams made up of Australian Services cricketers.
These happenned before the Australians returned home.
They also played in India.
These were very well attended and have never been recognised as Test Matches. Many including myself think they should have been.
Keith Miller and Lindsay Hassett went on to become highly successful test players for Australia.
I am gradually trying to put together a book based on the archives of Ross Stanford who played for Australia and was the father of my good friend Greg.
These are a few pics from his collection of those days.
Ross flew in the famous Dambuster's Squadron but not on the actual raid of  that name.
See my earlier posts on this subject and Ross Stanford.

Ross Stanford batting at Lords. Ross played briefly for South Australia but employment took him away from cricket in Adelaide.

70th Anniversary of the "Dambusters" Raids

Last friday I attended two functions relating to the 70th anniversary of The "Dambusters" wartime bombing mission.
My friend Greg Stanford's father Ross was a pilot in the famed 617 Squadron that carried out these missions.
Greg's dad died about 7 years ago.
About 10 years ago I did a photoshoot with Greg and his dad as Greg sensed time was running out for his dad and he did not have hardly any photos of them together in the later years.
See my earlier post. "When your Dad is your Hero."
http://geoffthompsonsblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/when-your-dad-is-your-hero.html
In the morning last friday 16th May we went to a memorial service on the path of Remembrance in Adelaide.
Wreath's were laid by some of the family members of men who served in the squadron.
In the evening we went to a booklaunch for a revised book on the Dambusters by Australian Author,Colin Burgess.
It's called "Australia's Dambusters"
One of my pictures of Greg and his dad is in the book.
Below are some pics from the Service and the book launch.

Greg Stanford contemplates the Dambusters Memorial Plaque

Peter Caldicott of Channel 7 news interviews Greg Stanford

Rev.Brenton Daulby

Nikki(Shannon) King speaking at  the memorial service

Colin Burgess reads a poem

Rev.Brenton Daulby,Nikki King,Army Bugler and Greg Stanford

Nikki King making a short speech at beginning of book launch

Greg Stanford and Colin Burgess

Clive Baker;Publisher, Greg Stanford

When your Dad is your Hero

While doing a recent "then and now" project with the ABC Open programme in the Riverland of South Australia it reminded me of a "then and now" photoshoot I did with one of my mates and his dad just a few years ago.
Sometimes you get asked to do things as a photographer where you feel very privileged and this was one of those occasions.
My mate's name is Greg Stanford( we played cricket together) and his dad was Ross"Roscoe" Stanford who was a distinguished South Australian cricketer but also a member  of the original "Dam Busters" Squadron in the second world war.

Ross played with West Torrens Cricket Club and also played briefly for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield competition in Australian Cricket.
As his dad was getting older, Greg asked me if I could come around and do some photos of him and his dad and memoriblia from his days in the airforce and in particular when he played cricket representing Australia in the famous "Victory Test Matches" immediately on the finish of the war.
These were never recognised as official test matches but did much to help restore morale, particularly in England, immediately following the war.
There were some notable Australian cricketers in the team, namely Keith Miller and Lindsay Hassett.           .
They were very successful winning half of their "test" matches and according to Keith Miller in his book "Cricket Crossfire", the English public seemed to think they were the actual Australian test team.
Ross has passed on 6 years ago and a large funeral service was held at the Adelaide Oval honouring Ross and his life.
Greg gave a very passionate eulogy about his dad and he was not backward in saying his dad was his hero.
Greg did an amazing job looking after his dad as a personal carer in the last difficult years when his dad was very unwell.
So I have sought Greg"s permission to share some of the photos we took that day.

Ross put on his uniform as Greg thought it would be good to recreate a photo of him in his uniform in his war years.

We have also recorded a video interview of Greg reflecting on his Dad and his Mum.The video is at the foot of this post.

My dad was a hero to me too.

We are indeed fortunate if we can say this.

Thank God for your parents every day regardless of whether they were your hero or not.

If there is any bitterness towards your parents let it go.

Here is the wikipedia link for the Dambusters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dam_Busters

Roscoe and commemmorative bat of the victory tests

commemmorative bat of the victory tests

Ross stands at first slip while Greg faces up.Geoff Thompson is at the other end.

Below is the final version of our interview.

Last Month Prominent Posts

Here are the most prominent posts in the last month from today for your interest.I am working on a post concerning Ross Stanford who was a prominent South Australian Cricketer and member of the "Dambusters" 617 squadron. Coming soon.

ABC "THEN AND NOW" Apr 26, 2012 42 Pageviews

Millawa Mustards. Mar 21, 2012 32 Pageviews

Glenelg Holdfast Shores Marina at Night Apr 14, 2012 28 Pageviews

Dealing with Depression Apr 13, 2012 24 Pageviews

Talkin' about My Generation part 2 Mar 29, 2012 24 Pageviews

Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs 7/4/12 Apr 8, 2012,  19 Pageviews

Sidetracked from Posting Feb 18, 2012 18 Pageviews

Talkin' about My Generation Part 1 Mar 18, 2012 17 Pageviews

USE OF A STEP LADDER IN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY Nov 28, 2011 15 Pageviews

What Colour is your Parachute? Jan 15, 2012 14 Pageviews