Lives in Cricket No 28 - Keith Carmody

42 On 13 June the Carmody/ Docking crew was among 13 that took off at 0345 hours ‘on an anti-E boat patrol of the French, Belgian and Dutch coasts, from Gravelines to the Hook of Holland.’ As the formation attacked an armed trawler and two smaller vessels near Schouwen, scoring a direct hit on one, it was subjected to ‘intense accurate heavy and light flak’. One aircraft returned safely to base with a damaged wing and another did so after missing a rendezvous with the others, as they jettisoned their bombs in preparation for an attack with cannons on a convoy of seven armed trawlers. Five of the vessels were severely damaged and set on fire, the other two ‘were claimed as damaged’. After all the aircraft ‘were subjected to heavy and light intense accurate flak from the ships and shore batteries’, Carmody ‘broadcast on VHF that he had suffered engine damage and that he would have to “ditch”.’ No further message was received but some of the other aircraft reported that his port engine was making smoke and that he was heading for the Dutch coast five kilometres away. The formation searched the area for ten minutes but nothing was seen. The crew was reported ‘missing’. When the RAAF team assembled again at Lord’s four days later, this time to play the Army, ‘their habitual captain, K.Carmody, will be sorely missed,’ announced The Times. On that same day a telegram reporting his uncertain fate reached his sister, Dorothy Bergstrom, in Cammeray, New South Wales. Of no interest to the English press was the news in The Sydney Morning Herald exactly two weeks later, that ‘Flying-Officer Peter Pearson, a prominent Mosman slow left-hand bowler, has been reported missing in air operations over Germany.’ * * * * * * * The emergence of Keith Miller is the most fondly recalled aspect of the Australian contribution to wartime cricket in England, especially through his performances in the Victory ‘Tests’ of 1945. But in 1943 and 1944 Keith Carmody’s strong personality and imaginative leadership made at least as significant a contribution to the history of international cricket. In leading his RAAF team to widespread acclaim, while fully engaged as a combat pilot, Carmody had made common cause with the influential Sir Pelham Warner. The only blemish on their relationship was a reminder of the differences between Australian and English social attitudes mostly hidden amid wartime goodwill. It occurred at the start of one of the popular Lord’s matches in 1944. In his eulogy at Carmody’s funeral in 1977 Miller recalled: In the Air and on the Field with the RAAF