Flight Sergeant Vivian Lewis POPE
20 Aug 1923 – 23 May 1943
Vivian Lewis POPE was born 20th August 1923 to Albert Henry and Mary Annie Pope, of Waikerie. Vivian had an older brother, Ralph, (who also joined the RAAF) and a sister Doreen (who was in the WAAAF). Vivian attended the Holder Primary and the Waikerie Higher Primary schools.
Vivian’s father, Albert, was a member of the 16th Battalion 1st AIF. One of the Original ANZACs, he was wounded on Gallipoli, shot in the leg which shattered his femur, and returning to Australia served for some time as Staff Sgt. Major. Later he took up land at Holder, where he established himself as a successful orchardist.
Vivian joined the SA Police Force, passing exams on 6th December 1940 at 16 years of age. As a Cadet he was posted at the Thebarton Police Barracks. Vivian took leave from the Police Force where he had become a Junior Constable and enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force on the 8th of November 1941 at 18 years of age.
He trained at 4 Training School RAAF, Victor Harbor, whilst there he was advised his brother Ralph had died on air operations on 10th December 1941. He was posted to NSW where he completed training and gained his wings. On 22nd October 1942, he became a Sergeant Pilot.
He embarked for service in the U.K. on 15-1-1943 travelling via San Francisco and New York. He arrived in the U.K. on 14th March, 1943. Vivian was posted to R.A.F. Base Bournemouth.
On the 23rd May, 1943, Vivian was on leave in Bournemouth. Bournemouth was a popular town with RAAF, RAF, RCAF and USAF personnel on leave or whilst recuperating from injury. At about 1pm the air raid sirens sounded again, the 848th time since the war started, but this time, barely 5 minutes later, Bournemouth fell victim to its bloodiest raid of World War 2. At least 131 people lay dead, although the total may never be known exactly. Hundreds more were injured, many of them suffering life-changing injuries. 3359 buildings were damaged, 37 of which had to be demolished adding to the 22 that were destroyed in the raid including two of the town’s landmark hotels, the Metropole and the Central.
Vivian and 5 other Australians were killed instantly when the Central Hotel was bombed.
When Superintendent Johns, of the Police Training College, was advised by Sergeant Eyre, of Waikerie, of the sad news, he held a parade of the nearly 200 trainees in college and informed them of the death of their late comrade. The Superintendent repeated the “Soldiers’ Requiem” and four trainee buglers sounded the Last Post. Superintendent Johns expressed himself as deeply moved by the reverence showed by the lads.
Vivian POPE is buried in the Bournemouth North Cemetery with the other Australians and on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour with his brother, Ralph.
Vivian is also commemorated with a tree and plaque here in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
