ANZAC Day Commemoration 2025
The Captain conducted the 2025 ANZAC Day Commemoration at the boatshed with many of the young members present. The commemoration took the opportunity to highlight club member Gordon Davieswho died on service in WWII.
Gordon learnt his rowing at Scotch College and raced in the 1st VIII in 1935 in the seven seat. They finished third in the final when the regatta was still on the Yarra River. The crew was coached by noted Mercantile coach Arch Dobbie. He joined Mercs in 1936-37 season. He won a maiden eight at the Barwon regatta in 1939 in the seven seat, and raced in the seven seat of the unsuccessful club junior eight at the Victorian Championships. Gordon enlisted in the RAAF in August 1940 but only after some more racing for the Club in junior eights.
He became a pilot and specifically a flying officer in 460 Squadron RAAF, which formed part of Bomber Command. The Squadron initially commenced bombing operations in 1942, flying Wellington bombers before conversion to Lancaster bombers in October 1942. Over 3000 aircrew were posted to the Squadron and of these, 990 were killed in action, a great number were wounded, and 220 were taken prisoner after being shot down, or were interned after being forced to crash-land their damaged aircraft in neutral territory. Flying Lancasters over Europe in WWII was probably the riskiest job in that war. Gordon successfully piloted 18 missions. Sadly, after all the risk he undertook, he died accidently as a result of a ground accident on 15th May 1945, 3 weeks after the cessation of the European conflict.
It was good that the young members attended this commemoration as like them, Gordon was a similar same age, equally motivated and talented, and a likely future leader in society. That makes his loss all the more grievous.
Andrew Guerin – Patron
