Clarence Albert Curtis

Clarence Albert Curtis

Ida Evelyn
Personal Information
Date of Birth	25 Jul 1915
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	9 Jun 2004
Place of Death	Midland, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 3 months
Description	5'4½" (1.64m) tall ; 130lbs 58.967 kg ; fair complexion ; hazel eyes ; fair hair ; scar on right thumb
Occupation	Mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Albany road, Bedfordale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Ms Ida Evelyn Walters
Military Information
Reg Number	82378
Date of Enlistment	30 Oct 1942
Rank	Leading Aircraftman
Unit/Formation	No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1937 Clarence married Ida Evelyn Martin (1912-2009) in Fremantle. Ida died in East Perth on 22 Feb 2009 aged 97. They had four children the oldest being Barry Albert Curtis (1938-2019), and Graeme Frederick (b. 20 May 1940)

Electoral Roll entries: 1936 - 1937 at Bedfordale, driver; 1943 at Hicks street, Gosnells, truck driver.

War Service

On 30 Oct 1942 Clarence enlisted as a General Hand in the RAAF at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth. The following day he was posted to the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF to undertake basic drill training. Training completed he was then posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton on 26 Nov 1942. His next posting was on 8 Jan 1943 to No. 74 Operational Base Unit RAAF at Yanrey Station, remaining with them until 16 Aug 1943 when he was transferred to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF at Cunderdin. During this time he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 1 May 1943.

Clarence was posted back to Perth to join HQ Western Area RAAF's Signals staff on 20 Dec 1943, remaining with them until 16 Mar 1944. During this time he was detached to No. 73 Operational Base Unit at Corunna Downs Station in the north west from 27 Feb 1944 until 5 Mar 1944. Clarence was next posted to No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF on 16 Mar 1944. However, instead of proceeding overseas, he was discharged at his own request on 29 Mar 1944 to "resume his civilian occupation" with his father part owner of Smailes & Co. Timber Mill at Karragullen.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at Third road, Armadale, truck driver; 1968 181 Lobelia avenue, Wundowie, mill hand.

Notes

His brother Stanley Gordon Curtis lost his life in Rabaul on 2 Feb 1942 as a member of the 2/1st Independent Company. His brother Lance Corporal Harry Alfred Curtis served with the 2/32nd Battalion; brother Corporal Keith Curtis with the 16th Battalion; brother Able Seaman Kenneth Roy Curtis with the RAN, brother Trooper Kelvin Curtis with the 25th Cavalry Regiment, and his sister Mona Curtis served with the RAAF.

Timber processesd at Smailes Mill was primarily for defence purposes via Millers Timber Co, with the rest used for fruit boxes.

Clarence's application for discharge was in part supported by FE Chamberlain (later a long serving Secretary of the ALP).