Frederick Mervyn Cross

Frederick Mervyn Cross

Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Jun 1908
Place of Birth	Bedfordale, Western Australia
Death	8 Jun 1996, aged 87
Place of Death	Kalamunda, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 5 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 147lbs 66.678 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Carpenter / boat builder
Religion	Congregational
Address	25 Napier street, Claremont, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Amy Winifred Cross
Military Information
Reg Number	46134
Date of Enlistment	17 Dec 1941
Rank	Leading Aircraftman
Unit/Formation	No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF
Post War Details
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1937 at 'Runnymede', Bedfordale, orchardist. Fred served a 4 year Carpenter/Joiner apprenticeship with Bunning Bros.

During 1938 Fred married Amy Winifred Ledger in Perth. Their son Graeme Frederick was born on 26 Jan 1939. Amy died on 23 Mar 1996 aged 86. He had served a 4 year apprenticeship with Bunning Bros.

War Service

Fred enlisted in the RAAF at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 17 Dec 1941 as an Aircraftman I Carpenter and was sent to the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Pearce to undertake the P139 Recruit Drill Course from 17 Dec 41 until 9 Jan 1942. On 15 Jan 1942 he was posted to Station HQ RAAF Base Pearce and early on he seems to have move from one unit to another, perhaps on small one off repair jobs before being detached to the No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF. Fred's detachment ended on 26 May 1942 and he returned to the HQ RAAF Base Pearce where on 16 Jun 1942 he was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman.

On 11 Aug 1942 Fred was transferred to the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale in Victoria. Training as a Carpenter/Rigger completed he was then remustered as a Carpenter Rigger, and on 22 Nov 1942 as a result of the reclassification, reverted to Aircraftman. Fred was then posted to the No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Mallala in South Australia on 27 Nov 1942 where on 16 Mar 1943 he was again appointed as a Leading Aircraftman. While based at Mallala for more than 2 years, the longest period of leave he was granted was 8 days plus travel time of 5 more days to return to WA on one occasion.

On 21 Jun 1945 Fred was transferred to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF for transfer to the RAAF Reserve on 22 Jun 1945, despite him not volunteering to do so. He was more formally discharged on 23 Dec 1945.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1943 - 1972 at 25 Napier street, Nedlands, carpenter; 1977 - 1980 at 18 Petunia street, Kalamunda, retired.