Archibald Tindal by Kenzie King

 


Wing Commander Archibald Robert Tindal (1916-1942) 

Archibald Robert Tindal was born on the 18th of January 1916 at Fir Grove in Eversly, England to Archibald Arthur and Hilda Dorothy Tindal. The year before he was born, his parents and older sister Elizabeth had travelled from Australia to the Tindal seat of Fir Grove, England. Prior to leaving for England, they were living in Queensland, operating one of the family properties in Gunyan Station. Archibald’s father returned to England in response to newspaper advertisements for English Army Reservists living in New South Wales to join the Expeditionary Forces in Europe. When Hilda was heavily pregnant with Archibald, just three months before his birth, his father enlisted. By the time Archibald was born his father had joined his battery in the Royal Field Artillery with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Archibald’s father went to the Somme in France of March 1915, when Archibald was a little over 2 months old. On the 18th of September 1916, in the Battle of Guillemont, Archibald’s father lost his life, therefore he never knew him.

 

Grieving the tragic loss of her husband, and wanting to seek family support in Australia, Hilda returned with her two children to Armidale, New South Wales. Archibald was enrolled as a day student at The Armidale School, known for its excellent educational facilities. Archibald was a junior in Tyrell House and later a House Captain and a Monitor during his years from 1925 to 1934. He was also a member of the school Cadets.

Despite losing his father in WW1, he still decided to follow in the family tradition of enlisting. At just 18 years old, Archibald joined the Royal Australian Air Force on the 16th of July as a cadet. He quickly rose through the ranks over the next 8 years, being promoted to Pilot Officer, Flying Officer, Flying Lieutenant, Squadron Leader and finally Wing Commander in 1942. As a senior pilot he had the responsibility of coordinating his squadron. During this time, he served with No. 3 Squadron, No. 24 Squadron, and HQ Northern Area, in addition to attending several different RAAF training schools. In January 1942, Tindal was posted to HQ North Western Area, Darwin, as Area Armament Officer. His responsibilities included maintaining military firearms, explosives demolition, guided missiles, and general munitions support.

It was here in Darwin, on 19th February 1942, when Wing Commander Archibald Tindal witnessed 188 Japanese aircrafts mounting a deadly air raid. He courageously manned a Lewis Machine gun against attacking Japanese aircraft at the RAAF Base. He bravely continued the one-sided struggle for some time. At only 26 years old, Tindal was fatally hit by Japanese cannon fire. He was believed to be the first Air Force casualty on mainland Australia during the Second World War. He was buried at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, here in Darwin. In 1946 Carson’s Airfield near the town of Katherine was renamed in Wing Commander Tindal’s honour, firstly as Tindal Airfield, and later RAAF Base Tindal. This Base serves as a permanent reminder of the heroic actions and sacrifice of Wing Commander Archibald Robert Tindal.


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