Bernard Francis McGarry

Bernard Francis McGarry

Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Jul 1906
Place of Birth	Bunbury, Western Australia
Death	11 Aug 1982, aged 76
Place of Death	Swan View, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	35 years, 10 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 159lbs 72.121 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Timber worker
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Smailes Mill, Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Violet McGarry
Military Information
Reg Number	W68120 & 82754
Date of Enlistment	24 Apr 1942 (Army) & 16 Jan 1943 (RAAF)
Rank	Private & Leading Aircraftman
Unit/Formation	12th (Jarrah) VDC Battalion & No. 4 Repair & Servicing Unit RAAF
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1928 Bernard had married Violet Agnes Kearns in Fremantle. Their children were Jean Francis born 7 Jun 1928 and Betty Joyce born 10 Dec 1931. He had a knowledge of First Aisde when he joined RAAF.

Electoral Roll entries: 1934 at 4 Gordon street, Subiaco, taxi driver; 1936 - 1937 at No. 2 State Mill, timber worker; 1943 at 11 Kalgoorlie street, Leederville, bus driver.

War Service

George enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps at Pickering Brook on 24 Apr 1942 and was posted to 2 Platoon, 'A' Company, 12th (Jarrah) VDC Battalion at Pickering Brook, before being discharged on 8 Jan 1943, in order to enlist in the RAAF on 16 Jan 1943 at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre. His original RAAF mustering was as a Trainee Technical V.

Posted to No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF on 16 Jan 1943 to undertake basic drill training, on 25 Jan 1943 he was posted to No. 5 School of Technical Training RAAF in Perth to participate in No. 175 Trainee Fitter Course. With the course finished he was sent in April 1943 aboard SS Marella to Sydney and the No. 3 School of Technical Training RAAF at Ultio, a suburb of Sydney to undertake No. 49 Fitter DMT Course. Now ready to play an active part he was sent to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF at Cunderdin in Western Australia on 1 Aug 1943. His next move was on 4 Nov 1943 when he was posted to No. 4 Embarkation Depot RAAF where on 1 Dec 1943 Bernard was promoted Leading Aircraftman.

However, instead of going overseas, he was posted on 11 Dec 1943 to the No. 4 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF which was operating on the Pell Strip North West Area, remaining there for more than a year. On 19 Mar 1945 Bernard was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Subiaco, and soon after on 11 May 1945 to the No. 2 Personnel Depot RAAF. Bernard was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital in Subiaco from 14 Jun 1945 until 21 Jun 1945 returning to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF on 4 Dec 1945 to prepare for his discharge which occurred on 13 Feb 1946.