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1942/3 My Father, Geoffrey Bruce Hope "Sandy" Sandilands, RAAF, Rear Gunner
Dad was born in Uralla, NSW, Australia near his family's sheep station, "Roumalla." Although his life ended far too soon, he was able to make his mark honourably for those he left behind. He attended TAS (The Armidale School for Boys) and was junior tennis champion. In his latter years at school he studied accounting. He had two older brothers, John and James, and two sisters, Helen and Aline - he was the baby. Both his brothers were also in the RAAF and lost their lives in WW2. I think that my father's greatest achievement in his 22 years of life was marrying my mother and giving me life. Unfortuately, he died 5 mos. before my birth. I wish we had had the time to meet, Dad, but that dreadful war was determined to make that an impossibility. This picture was taken at #3 B&G RCAF Base Macdonald nr Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada during the British Commonwealth Training Plan where he and my mother met in 1943. |
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1943: My Mom: Dorothy Mary Joyce
Mom and Dad met in 1943 while serving in the British Commonwealth Training Plan. They were stationed on an airforce base in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Dad was sent overseas in 1944 just after their honeymoon - something they had been promised would not happen. |
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My Sandilands grandparents in Uralla, NSW, Australia C1947
This picture was taken by my mother while she and I visited Australia after the war. These amazing folks lost all three of their sons and one of their sons-in-law during the Second World War. I was the only child produced from any of these lost souls. My grandfather died of a broken heart, it was said, and my grandmother lived long enough to see me return to Australia in 1970. |
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My great-grandparents, Sir John Hope Sandilands and Helen Mary Tourle with my grandfather, James. C1910
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The heraldic Scottish crest of Lord Torphichen of Sandilands.
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Geoffrey Bruce Hope
Sandilands
