Vale Arthur Atkins DFC

VALE ARTHUR ATKINS DFC

5th August 1917 – 26th October 2022 (105 years)

Patron – Mercantile Rowing Club Inc

It is with great sadness that members are advised of the death of our patron and life member Arthur Atkins DFC. He died peacefully on 26th October 2022, aged 105 years. 

Needless to say, Arthur Atkins DFC, was the oldest and longest continuous member of the Club having joined Mercantile in the 1935-36 season after leaving school.

Arthur loved Mercantile and the Club loved him. Although not a champion rower, he thoroughly enjoyed his racing, taking pride in his wins. He competed successfully for Mercantile both prior to and after WWII.

His first win of consequence was Australian Henley in 1937 and one of his last was after the war, winning an open eight at Barwon in 1946. 

Arthur in the two seat of the winning 1937 maiden four at Australian Henley

But more than the rowing, he loved the camaraderie of the Club and its members. 

His many of his friends and notables of that time included:

• Bill Macrae a popular member and good friend to Arthur who unfortunately died piloting a plane whilst training for the Air Force.
• Deane Morgan – a character who knew every publican in Victoria through his job with Carlton and United Breweries
• Mick Williams – a solicitor who practised in liquor law and was very good at either side of the Mercs bar!
• Teddie Varcoe who had the role of opening the barrel with a mallet.
• Jack Jones – a good friend and later a solicitor.
• Roy Thursfield who Arthur described as a noisy but amusing character and Vice President

Educated at Scotch College Melbourne where he stroked the fourth crew in 1934 (pipped on the line by 2 feet) and stroked the thirds in 1935 (second or third). Scotch College rowed out of the Mercs shed in those years so he has had an even longer association with the Club than his years of membership.

Arthur studied accountancy and graduated in 1941. He then enlisted in the armed services for WWII.

He married Betty in 1950 and they were blessed with two children Mandy and Roderick. He was a partner in Simpson Gloves in Richmond until his retirement in 1987.

Arthur purchased their home in Kew for their marriage in 1950 and he continued to live in that house until only about two years ago, largely maintaining it himself. 

After his retirement in 1988 he donated a racing eight to the Club which was used by both our winning senior eight but also the winning Victorian crew. The bow remains on the Clubroom walls. 

1988 Boat Naming - Arthur and Betty with President Bob Aitken and Captain Jeff Lawrence

Sadly, his childhood sweetheart wife Betty predeceased him and Arthur continued to live in the house. He was resourceful and maintained the house well, including mowing the lawns and pruning the plants. It was only recently that he needed for more care in a nursing home. 

It was pleasing that Arthur was so well at the age of 100 years. At that stage, he still drove not only one car, but two – the temptation to buy a new Jaguar aged 99 years old proved too much for him. Which is interesting as it is usually said that you don’t worry about avoiding temptation as you grow older, it usually avoids you.

A consistent feature throughout his life is an appreciation good cars and motorcycles. Even when serving in the UK during WWII, he managed to find himself an open topped sports car as his transport.
Now cars do need looking after and Arthur had a garage for only one car. So what does he do? He clad the carport to keep the second car protected from the elements. He was justifiably proud of his fine work and spoke of this task as if all 99 years olds undertake their own building works.

In recent years, I found Arthur up a ladder pruning along the roof line. Immediately I demanded that he get down and allow me to do it. Quick as a flash, he responded with, but Andrew, how good are you on a ladder?

Arthur with Her Excellency the Hon. Linda Dessau AC on his 100th birthday

His relaxed and understated manner gave no hint of his life experiences as a young man flying Lancasters in WWII, an occupation which provided a 25% chance of finishing a tour of operations unscathed, with most pilots killed in action. 

He enlisted in the Army on 12 August 1941 at Ivanhoe. He tried to transfer to the Air Force but his requests were not passed onto the Air Force by the Army. He thinks that the Army merely tore up his requests. He took matters into his own hands and whilst on leave, went to the Air Force recruiting office in Melbourne. He was then transferred to the Air Force in November 1941. To show how things operated in those days, the Military Police turned up at his parents house thinking that he had absconded from the Army. He trained initially at Sale in Victoria and then moved to Benalla where he flew Tiger Moths. Arthur could not believe his luck – flying Tiger Moths and being paid to do so. It was like being paid to drive sports cars.

He was transferred to the UK and from the RAAF to the RAF. 

Even his journey to the UK to serve in WWII with his great friend David Browne was one of great interest – full of wine, women and song. These two Australians met all the great musical stars of that time including the Andrews Sisters and Frank Sinatra.

It was in England that he was trained initially as a pilot in a twin engine Wellington bomber. His first mission over enemy territory was in a Wellington bomber in March 1944. He recounts the story of this pamphlet dropping mission over France with a new bombardier who was so nervous being over enemy territory that he released the canister rather than the pamphlets, possibly causing an unnecessary hole in a cathedral roof! 

In July 1944, he then was transferred to Lancasters and served with 625 squadron of the RAF. He recalls one of their training exercises was to “bomb” Green Park in London by taking a clear picture of an infra-red light in the park. The Bomber Command Memorial which was dedicated in modern times stands in Green Park London. The Lancasters were the pride of the sky being fast and agile for their time, with an ability to take significant damage and still fly. This proved to be beneficial for him on several occasions. His reliance of good navigators was critical with good ones figuring highly in conversations and poor ones derided. 

Arthur regarded his time in WWII as a great adventure whilst recalling the huge risks required to undertake the bombing raids successfully. He nonchalantly described the demise of those who did not survive as if it was a risk of this business.

Arthur was one of the few people to survive 32 missions in a Lancaster over enemy territory and for his work was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945. He left with the rank of Flying Officer in the RAF.

Late in life, he took the opportunity to acknowledge his good friend during WWII, fellow Lancaster pilot David Browne, by donating an Empacher eight and naming it in his honour. Like so many Lancaster pilots, David was killed in action over Germany.  Like the earlier boat donated to the Club, this boat has won many races including the King’s Cup. David was also an outstanding individual, being a champion athlete and Captain of Melbourne Grammar School. The naming of the David Browne provided a superb opportunity for David’s family to again remember him, and also provide Melbourne Grammar School, the opportunity to reflect on a promising life taken all too early.

The Naming of the David Browne

Arthur was a person who lived life to the full and was a great individual. Our sincere condolences go out to his daughter Mandy, his son Roderick and their families. 

Society has lost one of the very last links with WWII and Mercantile has lost one its great members.

Andrew Guerin
27 October 2022