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Joseph Butler Boyd

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Joseph Butler Boyd
Boyd Joseph Butler.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 10 May 1917
Place of Birth Belfast, Ireland
Death 15 Nov 1959, aged 42
Place of Death Belmont, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 25 years, 8 months
Description 5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; 145lb
"lb" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
; sallow complexion ; hazel eyes ; black hair ; scar on right biceps
Occupation Truck driver
Religion Church of England
Address Bunbury road, Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs. Nellie Beatrice Boyd
Military Information
Reg Number 2847
Date of Enlistment 6 Feb 1943
Rank Leading Aircraftman
Unit/Formation No. 56 PTC
Post War Details
Medals Italy Star
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

Eleven year old schoolboy Joseph traveled with his family on the SS Baradine from London to Fremantle , departing London on 1 Sep 1927. During 1938 Joseph married Beatrice Nellie Hunt. At the time of his initial application to join the RAAF (30 May 1942) he was working with the State Brickworks at Byford.


A daughter Maureen Ann was born on 17 Sep 1939, another, Jean was born on 22 Dec 1940, and a third daughter Marian Irene was born on 4 Jan 1944. Electoral Roll entry: 1943 at Bunbury road, Byford, truck driver.


War Service

Joe enlisted on 6 Feb 1943 at the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF, and was mustered as a Driver Motor Tranport. Ater he had completed a four week Recruit Dril Course , he was posted to No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF on 5 Mar 1943, and on 13 Mar 1943 Joe was posted to No. 17 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF. On 6 Aug 1943 Joe was appointed Leading Aircraftsman. On 10 Apr 1944 his posting changed when he joined No. 85 Squadron RAAF. On 8 Sep 1944 he was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF, and on 4 Nov 1944 he embarked in Fremantle for Egypt to join Middle East Command. He disembarked in Egypt on 22 Dec 1944 and was initially taken to No. 11 Personnel Depot & Receiving Centre RAAF.


On 28 Dec 1944 he was taken on strength by No. 459 Squadron RAAF, who at the time operated Martin Baltimore aircraft from Berka 3, in Cyrenaica, and remained with them for about a month until 22 Dec 1944 when he was detached to the No. 22 PTC until 5 Jan 1945 when he returned to his Squadron (their role in the war was then scalling down significantly). On 27 Feb 1945 Joe was transferred to No. 450 Squadron RAAF who were flying fighter support missions from Fano on the east coast of Italy against targets further north. The same day, he embarked in Egypt for Italy


With the war in Europe over, on 14 Aug 1945 Joe had begun his return to Australia via the UK, passing through a series of holding units until he reached No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF on 28 Dec 1945. Joe was demobbed earlier than planned (compassionate grounds) on 20 Feb 1946 with 49 days pay in lieu of leave owing to him

Post War

On 2 Oct 1953, 36 year old Joseph, with his first wife Beatrice Nellie, and daughters Maureen A. (13 years old); Jean E. (12) and Marion I. (9) sailed from Southampton for Fremantle aboard the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line's SS Moreton Bay. Joseph is listed as a Panel beater and that they had lived at 139 Arthuclie st, Barrhead in Scotland prior to the journey.


During 1959 Joseph married a divorcee Alice Bennett (1914 - 6 Dec 2006) who died in Beckenham aged 92.


Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at corner of Hardy and Fulham streets, panel beater; South Belmont, 1954 at 158 Surrey road, South Belmont, panel beater;

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