Robin Ordell, “Pop” born in Sydney, Australia on the 16-06-1920, the son of William Raymond “Tal” Ordell 
and Ethel May Ordell (born Phillips) of 1, Village High Road, Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia. 
They had married in Melbourne on the 28-08-1919. Robin had a brother Arthur. Their father was a well-known film and stage actor and also a writer and artist. He was known as ‘Tal’ Ordell. Robin appeared in the stage production of ‘The Kid Stakes’ 
alongside his father when he was just six years old. When their mother died their father married again on the 12-10-1938 at Chatswood. Ivy Lillian Smith (born Dowling) was a widow with two children, Joyce and Graham.
Educated at Sydney Grammar School, 
Robin then worked as a radio announcer at Radio 2GB in Sydney as well as an entertainer. He finally gave up his radio job to pursue his passion for flying. Robin enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force 
at Wolloomooloo on the 25-04-1942. During his training, Robin continued his work as an entertainer in RAAF stage plays and revues. Robin trained as a pilot, and as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, he soon embarked for overseas service first to Canada on the 11-12-1942 and then to Britain on the 01-07-1943. After arriving in Britain, Robin undertook further specialist training at 27 Operational Training Unit 
before being posted to 100 Squadron. 
under command of Wing Commander Percy Robert Hatfield, DFC.
This Squadron was part of Bomber Command and was equipped with the four-engine Avro Lancaster 
heavy bombers. In June 1944 Robin was commissioned Pilot Officer, then Flying Officer, and by November 1944 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. On the afternoon of the 03-02-1945 at 16.05 hrs, Robin and his crew took off from RAF Grimsby in Lancaster PB569. 
Their night mission was to bomb the Prosper Benzol Works at Bottrop 
in Germany’s industrial heartland. Flying over Holland, their Lancaster was intercepted and fired on by Hauptmann Heinz Rökker 
of the 2./NJG 2, flying a Ju.88 from Twente Airfield. Heinz was the eighth-most-successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare. He passed away on 02-08-2018 at the age of 97.
Ordell’s Lancaster burst into flames which engulfed the fuselage with incredible speed. Robin gave the order to bale out but only the rear gunner Harper was able to. The Lancaster crashed into a minefield and disintegrated 2km East of Swolgen, near Venlo. Robin and five of his crew were killed. His rear gunner Flight Sergeant James Harper, severely injured, survived and was taken prisoner of war. Harper spends the rest of the war in the hospital.
Those who died were initially buried at St. Oda Monastery, Venray. Their bodies were later exhumed and buried in Mierlo War Cemetery, Holland. Robin was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. 
The citation with effect from the 02n-02-1945 was announced in the London Gazette on the 05-04-1946 stated: – Acting Flight Lieutenant Robin Ordell (Aus.422251) No. 100 Squadron”This officer has completed as Pilot and Captain of aircraft, numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.” This award was presented to his father by the Governor of New South Wales in a ceremony at Government House in Sydney on the 27-02-1947.
Robin had belonged to many clubs which were noted on his RAAF records. They were: Actors Equity, Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, Microphone Club and the Old Sydneians Club. Robin is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial 
as well as on the School Roll of Honour Memorial Board for Old Sydneians 
who attended Sydney Grammar School.
During WW2 his brother Arthur served as a Chief Officer in the Merchant navy and his step brother Graham in the Royal Australian Air Force. Robin’s father ‘Tal’ died of coronary vascular disease at Waverley on 08-06-1948 and was cremated. Although not conspicuously successful in 1927, ‘The Kid Stakes’ in which Robin starred is now widely regarded as one of the major achievements of Australia’s silent cinema.
Death and burial ground of Ordell, Robin “Pop”.
“Pop” Robin’s comrades in death were, Pilot Officer John Gordon Treatt Killen, Ray Macaskill, Ian Osborne and Flight Sergeant Keith Kevin Reynolds. Robin’s name is on the Roll of Honor, together with 40.000 other Australien soldiers, who died serving in WW2. Those who died on 02-02-1945 were initially buried at St. Oda Monastery, Venray. Their bodies were later exhumed and buried in Mierlo War Cemetery, Holland
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