Cyril Charles Cross
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 13 Jan 1907 |
| Place of Birth | Bedfordale, Western Australia |
| Death | 21 May 1967, aged 60 |
| Place of Death | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 34 years, 8 months |
| Description |
5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; weight 123lbs "weight" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. ; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Orchardist |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | "Runnymede", Bedfordale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Edna Olive Thelma Cross |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 45828 |
| Date of Enlistment | 9 Oct 1941 |
| Rank | Leading Aircraftsman |
| Unit/Formation | No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
| Medals |
Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Cyril married Edna Olive Thelma Williams (1911 - 2003) on 6 May 1933 in the Armadale Congregational CHurch. Their daughter Barbara Ann was born 13 Sep 1934.
Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1937 at "Runnymede", Bedfordale, orchardist.
War Service
Enlisted at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth as a Aircraftsman mustered as a Trainee Group V. While there he undertook an abbreviated, basic Drill Training Course before being posted on 16 Dec 1941 to No. 1 School of Technical Training RAAF, housed in the Exhibition Centre at Carlton, Victoria. This was followed by a posting to the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale, Victoria on 15 Feb 1942 where on 25 Apr 1942 he remustered as a Flight Mechanic. Initial training completed, on 30 Apr 1942 he was posted to the No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie in South Australia. While there he was promoted Leading Aircraftsman on 12 Aug 1942.
On 13 Oct 1942 he returned to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF for further training before being posted to No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Mallala in South Australia on 31 Dec 1942. After completing training at No.1 Engineering School on 24 Dec 1942 he had been remustered as a Fitter level II, and although a re-mustering brought with it automatic loss of rank, he was promoted back to Leading Aircraftsman on the same day. He remained with No. 6 SFTS until 19 Jul 1944 when he was posted to No. 4 Personnel Depot RAAF.
On 11 Aug 1944 Cyril was posted to the No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot RAAF at Gorrie Airfield in the Northern Territory north of Daly Waters, but outside the range of Japanese bombers. No. 14 ARD serviced all forms of aircraft from bombers to fighters, be they Australian RAAF, Navy, or the American Air Force. No. 14 ARD repaired airframes, hydraulics, landing gear, electrics, armaments, batteries, radio equipment and even made and bottled their required oxygen needs. He was reposted to No. 12 Aircraft Repair Depot RAAF at Darwin on 26 Aug 1945. His posting changed again on 16 Oct 1945 when he moved to No. 87 Squadron RAAF at Coomalie Creek in the Northern Territory just as the squadron was in the process of relocating to Parkes in New South Wales.
On 19 Dec 1945 Cyril was posted home to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF who processed his discharge on 11 Jan 1946, brought forward so that he could be released back to the family orchard.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1963 at "Runnymede", Bedfordale, orchardist.
Notes