War - Ww2 Vc - Victoria - Bill Newton, Flight Lieutenant, Raaf Poem by Paul Warren

Bill Newton was born on 8th June,1919 in St Kilda, Victoria
And before the war he was in the CMF as a machine gunner
A good cricketer as a fast bowler with the 1939 second XI team
Bowling out Bill Ponsford and the Victorian colts trophy mean
When the war was declared he enlisted in the RAAF as a pilot
He was judged as a good instructor to train in the EATS lot
Eventually he was transferred to an operational squadron
Flying Bostons on patrols out of Sydney on the coast along

In November,1942 he went to 9th RAAF Operational Group
At Port Moresby fighting the advancing Japanese troops
In the battles around Lae and the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
He wa known to the Japanese as 'blue cap' because you'd see
Him wearing a blue cricketer's cap whilst on patrol operation
Or 'The Fire Bug' as leaving burning buildings was his intention
On the 16 and 18 March,1943, he led attacks on Salamaua
Strafing and bombing the Japanese positions as a real goer

The now flight lieutenant's Boston was hit by anti-aircraft fire
And the aircraft took hits all over diving down into the mire
Knowing that the aircraft wouldn't survive he flew it onward
Ditching the Boston in the sea meaning a swim to land ward
The navigator was killed but the wireless operator survived
And they swam to the shore hoping to keep alive
They evaded the Japanese in the jungle but were captured
When they went to the coast and were taken and interrogated

Japanese war criminals at an order by Rear Admiral Fujita
Bayoneted to death the John Lyon the wireless operator
Then on the 29 March 1943 Sub-Lieutenant Uichi Komai
Ceremonial beheaded Bill Newton unlawfully and cruelly
Komai was killed in the Phillippines soon after this
And Rear Admiral Fujita escaped trial by killing himself in a twist
On 19 October 1943 he was awarded the Victoria Cross
For his bravery in pressing home attacks before he was lost.

© Paul Warren Poetry