WITH coronavirus (COVID-19) causing the cancellation or postponement of many annual agricultural shows, such as the Bathurst event, our photo this week is of Maurice Freeman of Eglinton heading into the Bathurst Showground for the show in 1941.
Ironically, the following year's show would not be held due to military authorities taking over the Bathurst Showgrounds during World War Two.
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At this time, the 2020 Reliance Bank Royal Bathurst Show has been cancelled and the next show is scheduled for April 2021.
Maurice Joseph Freeman is dressed up in his suit, tie and hat, striding along at the Bathurst Show before he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force later that year, in September 1941.
He had attended the Bathurst Show since he was a young boy.
The show that year opened under glorious weather conditions and provided a wonderful all-round display.
It showed that Hitler's attempt at world domination had not marred the enthusiasm or dampened the ardour of the hundreds of show exhibitors across the state.
The 1941 Bathurst Show, described as the "Bathurst War Time Show", took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 23-25, 1940. There were two 'main days' as the third day was a public holiday for Anzac Day, which Maurice would also have attended.
Despite wartime and seasonal conditions, the show proved to be exceedingly bright, according to the local National Advocate.
Show secretary Mr N.B. Richardson said there was no official opening as the committee considered that official openings were of little or no interest to the general public and would only hold up the general proceedings.
After the Japanese invaded Malaya in December 1941, the Commonwealth Defence Department applied to the local Show Committee to use the showgrounds as an army training camp.
The committee set out a strict agreement before the army could occupy the site and all Bathurst shows were then cancelled until 1946.
Maurice Freeman was born on September 20, 1915 in Bathurst to Michael and Agnes Freeman.
Maurice attended St Stanislaus' College for his high school education before going on to work as a station overseer on a Bathurst property.
Most knew him as "Morrie" and he was a well-known sportsman in Bathurst and district.
Maurice played cricket with the Eglinton Cricket Club team before he enlisted in the Air Force. He played teams such as King's Parade, George's Plains, Tarana, All Saints, Orton Park, Stannies, Methodists, Kilarney, Perthville, St. Pats, Glanmire, Agricultural Farm, Railway, South Bathurst, Caloola, Duramana, West Bathurst, South Bathurst and Cow Flat.
He enjoyed tennis as well, but his main love was rugby league. He captained the Bathurst Charlestons rugby league first grade team who came out premiers in the Bathurst District Rugby League Competition in 1939, the year World War Two started.
"He was one of the most outstanding league footballers before enlisting," the National Advocate said.
Maurice learnt to fly in Australia before he headed to Britain to complete his flying instruction, becoming the pilot officer of a Lancaster bomber in No. 460 Squadron (RAAF), flying with Bomber Command.
He was killed on an RAAF bombing mission on November 23, 1943 over Germany. He was buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany - Plot 6. Row G. Grave 18.
Six years after Maurice was killed, a set of memorial gates was installed in Machattie Park.
The gates stated: "To the memory of P/O. Maurice J. Freeman, 413561 R.A.A.F., Captain and Pilot Lancaster Bomber, 460 Squadron R.A.F. Killed in Action Buried Dusseldorf, Germany, 23.11.43. Aged 28 Years."
Maurice's brothers Pat and Terry also enlisted in the RAAF during World War Two. Their father, Michael, joined the Royal Australian Engineers after his three lads had enlisted in the RAAF.
