What was the "Posting on Death" of these "Aussies in the RAF"?

YOUNG, LEO Aircraftman 2nd Class 1281411 22/11/1941 - No file held by NAA. Still no closer to knowing where he was stationed or his unit, but we now know how he died and a little about who he was.


The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Monday 26 May 1941

INVALIDED FROM RAF

Aircraftman Leo Young, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Young, Beaufort, has been invalided from the RAF because of long illness resulting from exposure.


The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Friday 28 November 1941

BEAUFORT AIRMAN'S DEATH

BEAUFORT, Thursday. - Mr. and Mrs S Young, of Beaufort, have received news of the death in England of their only son. Aircraftman Leo Young, 25. of the RAF. He had a severe attack of pneumonia some months ago, and had since been in hospital. Aircraftman Young was born in Beaufort. He was educated at the Beaufort Higher Elementary School, Geelong College, and Melbourne University. On leaving the University, he joined a Russian ballet, with which he travelled Europe and America, and won considerable fame as a dancer He was in Belgium when the German Army invaded that country, and with other members of his company reached England safely. He afterwards Joined the Royal Air Force.





The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Monday 13 May 1940

DANCER IN HOLLAND

BEAUFORT Sunday - Among Australians in Holland is Leo Young ballet dancer of Melbourne He is the only son of Mr and Mrs S. Young of Beaufort where his father has been a barrister and solicitor for more than 30 years.

 

CONWAY, JAMES PATRICK Squadron Leader 31428 26/10/1946 - as a post-war EQUIPO his posting would most probably have been to the base itself. RAF STATION BARRACKPORE. NAA file held: CONWAY, James Patrick - (Squadron Leader); Service Number - 31428; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Place - Barrackpore Bengal, India; Date - 26 October 1946

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 5 DECEMBER, 1939

EQUIPMENT BRANCH.
The undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers on probation are graded as Pilot Officers on probation on the dates stated: — 26th Sept. 1939 - James Patrick CONWAY (31428).


THE LONDON GAZETTE, 12 NOVEMBER, 1940

EQUIPMENT BRANCH.
The undermentioned Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments 17th Aug. 1940 and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer:— 26th Sept. 1940 - James Patrick CONWAY (31428).


THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 DECEMBER, 1941

EQUIPMENT BRANCH.
Flg. Offs. to be Flt. Lts. (temp.) - J. P. CONWAY (31428).


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 11 JUNE, 1942

Air Ministry, 11th June, 1942.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the publication of the names of the following personnel who have been mentioned in despatches by Air Officers Commanding- in-chief : — FLTLT CONWAY 31428


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 DECEMBER, 1943

EQUIPMENT BRANCH.
Promotion. Flt. Lt. (temp.) granted the rank of Flt. Lt. (war subs.): — J. P. CONWAY (31428). 20th Sept. 1943.


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 28 AUGUST, 1945

EQUIPMENT BRANCH. Flt Lt. to Sqn. Ldr. (temp): —J. P. CONWAY (31428). 1st July 1945.


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 NOVEMBER, 1945

EQUIPMENT BRANCH. *Transfer to reserve (and called up for Air Force service).
Flg. Offs. (temp. Flt. Lts.) 17th Aug. 1943. J. P. CONWAY (31428).

 

PAULSEN, JOHN MCKECHNIE Pilot Officer 109325 5/03/1942 - No file held by NAA. Not much extra except he was an EQUIPO and got commissioned at the same time as a bunch of other Aussies:

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 5 MAY, 1942

The undermentioned Australians to be Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency): -

David Wilson KIRK (60172). 7th Nov. 1940.
Charles Wilfred MIERS (109323). 24th Apr. 1941.

25th Apr. 1941
Roy Palmer BULCOCK (109313).
Montague Edward FLOWER (109331).

The undermentioned Australians to be Actg. Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency): -

24th Apr. 1941.
Philip Beynon ALCOCK (109337).
Geoffrey Albert Arthur ARMSTRONG (109308).
John George BADDELEY (109309).
James Alexander Crichton COULTER (109316).
Ernest Roy CROCKER (109317).
James Henry Esmond DORNEY (109318)..
William Bolton PAXTON (109324).
Francis Harold PENNIFOLD (109326).
Robert Login SILLETT (109329).
John Matthew WILLIAMS (109335).

25th Apr. 1941.
Wallace George BEST (109319).
Robert Vere CARTER (109315).
James Robert GRAHAM (109333).
Eric Laurence MARSLAND (109322) .
John McKechnie PAULSEN (109325)


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 NOVEMBER, 1942

EQUIPMENT BRANCH - Actg. Plt. Offs. (prob.) to be Plt. Offs. (prob.): - 20 June 1941 - J. McK. PAULSEN (109325).


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 30 APRIL, 1943

EQUIPMENT BRANCH - Plt. Offs. (prob.) to be Flg. Offs. on prob. (war subs.) – 20 June 1942 - J. McK. PAULSEN (109325).

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A few newspaper entries on his death -


The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Saturday 3 November 1945


PAULSEN. - On March 5. 1942., at TJilatjap, Java, Flying-Officer John McKechnie PAULSEN, R.A.F.V.R., dearly beloved husband of Margaret, and darling daddy of John and Donald, third son of Captain O. Paulsen, O.B.E.. and Mrs. Paulsen. Glasgow. Scotland. - To the world he was but one, to us he was the world.

PAULSEN. - In proud and loving memory of our dearly beloved son. F.O. John McKechnie Paulsen, R.A.F.V.R., who gave his life at TJilatjap. Java, on March 5. 1942. - Greater love hath no man. (Inserted by his sorrowing parents. Captain Paulsen, O.B.E., Merchant Navy, and Mrs. Paulsen, Whiteinch, Glasgow.)

PAULSEN. - In proud and loving memory of Jack, P.O., R.A.F.V.R., dearly beloved brother of Peggy (California), Georgina (Renfrewshire), Alex (Edinburgh). Donald, Lieut R.N.V.R., and Jimmy. Lieut R.A.N.R. (S.). - Our hearts are with his devoted wife and family in their loss, which we share.

PAULSEN. - A tribute to the memory of Flying-Officer J. McK. Paulsen (Jack), killed March 5, 1942. at TJilatjap. Java, beloved brother-in-law of J. and L. Andrew, and loved uncle of Judith and Nancy, North Carlton. - None that knew him need be told, a warmer heart death ne'er made cold.

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The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Wednesday 21 November 1945


RAAF CASUALTIES
AUSTRALIA AND AUSTRALIAN TERRITORIES
KILLED ENEMY ACTION
VICTORIA
PAULSEN, J. McK., P-O, Balwyn.

 

Ian Sim Forbes

I have the photographs of the six airmen's graves at Ansty, a picture of St. James Church and a close up of Ian Sim Forbes' headstone. How do I get them to you? Where do I send them?

Thank you for the information about the white pages. I have spoken to Mrs. Forbes who lives in Potts Point but her husband came from a Slovakian immigrant family, they fled to America and were given the name "Forbes" because the immigration officer could not pronounce their name! What a terrible thing to happen - to have even your name taken away.

I have a friend in Australia who is into family history and I have asked him to do some research for me on the Forbes family. I suspect they probably came to Australia from Scotland.

Regards - Martina

P.S. Just for interest, I have found out that it is a local Ansty family (the Robinsons) who have kept up the tradition of putting a wreath of poppies in St. James' churchyard at Ansty on the 11th November. It is a special wreath with the RAF insignia in the centre and is put in the centre of the graves of the six airmen who are buried in the churchyard.