Arthur George Berry
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 Sep 1923 |
| Place of Birth | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Death | 19 Oct 1992, aged 69 |
| Place of Death | Yokine, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 2 months |
| Description |
5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 166lbs 75.296 kg ; sallow complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair ; middle finger on left hand missing. |
| Occupation | Turner |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Prospect road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Sidney Ernest Berry |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 46087 |
| Date of Enlistment | 10 Dec 1941 |
| Rank | Leading Aircraftman |
| Unit/Formation | No. 7 Communication Unit RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
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| Headstone Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 September 1923 |
| Age at Death | 69 years |
| Additional Names |
Louisa Margaret Berry Sidney Ernest Berry Edith Maisie Scott |
| Transcription | In loving memory of Arthur George Berry. Born 25 September 1923. Died 19 October 1992. Aged 69 years. |
Pre War
Had completed 8th Standard at the Perth Boy's School and then spent a year at the Perth technical College undertaking an Engineering course and had learnt electric (arc) welding at night school. prior to enlistment he was employed by Speedy Gas Producers at 144 Brown street, East Perth. One of the references on file as to Arthur's suitability for service in the RAAF was provided by Claude Robert Marsh J.P.
War Service
Arthur enlisted in the RAAF Reserve on 13 Nov 1941 subject to health requirements and on 10 Dec 1941 he began full time service at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth. Accepted as a Trainee Group V following successful completion of a preliminary drill and discipline course. On 12 Jan 1942 Arthur was transferred to the No. 5 School of Technical Training RAAF at Pearce airbase where he successfully completed the No. 25 Trainee Group Fitters Course. He was then, on 10 Mar 1942, transferred to the No. 1 School of Technical Training RAAF, located in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne to undertake further training as a Fitter. Course completed, Arthur was deemed suitable for further training and he was next sent on 21 May 1942 to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale where he undertook a Flight Rigger Course which saw him be reclassified as a Flight Mechanic Group II on 2 Aug 1942.
On 5 Aug 1942 Arthur was posted to No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF at RAAF Station Mallala, north of Adelaide in South Australia. There on 7 Sep 1942 he was posted to No. 70 Reserve Squadron also at Mallala, tasked with army cooperation, meteorological survey, and photo reconnaissance duties in the Adelaide vicinity. On 16 Nov 1942 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman before being sent on 12 Jan 1943 to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale where he completed a Conversion course from Fitter to Fitter IIE. This lead to him being reclassified on 15 Apr 1943 as a Fitter Group IIE. Elevation to a higher level of responsibility and pay status resulted in his rank reverting to Aircraftman Level 1.
On 21 Apr 1943 Arthur was sent to No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie. He was detached to No. 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF from 7 Jul until 16 Aug 1943, but returned to Mallala before on 6 Oct 1943 being sent to No. 2 Embarkation Depot RAAF at Bradfield Park in preparation for an overseas posting. On marching out for Townsville he was promoted on 21 Oct 1943 to Leading Aircraftman, and two days later on 23 Oct 1943 he joined the No. 80 Squadron RAAF at the Weir Strip at Aitkenvale in Townsville. The unit had only formed on 10 Sep 1943 and was preparing for a move to New Guinea.
On 10 Feb 1944 Arthur and his unit boarded a ship in Townsville for Lae in New Guinea, disembarking there on 21 Feb 1944 and the unit then moved inland to the Nazdab strip. The nature of their role saw them move frequently: to Cape Gloucester on 13 Apr 1944; to Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea on 15 May 1944; to Biak Island on 1 Jul 1944; Noemfoor Island on 20 Jul 1944; and Morotai on 20 Dec 1944. In the case of Biak and Noemfoor, they were operating from strips on those islands before the Japanese were defeated. Morotai was the staging area for subsequent landings in North Borneo and Balikpapan.
On 31 May 1945 the Squadron ground crew were included in the landing force on Tarakan Island in North Kalimantan, with the aircraft following on12/13 Jul 1945. The squadron continued to fly close Army co-operation flights until the end of the war. On 9 Oct 1945 Arthur was posted to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth and he was then posted to the No. 7 Communication Unit RAAF at Dunreath (Perth Airport) on 18 Dec 1945. It is likely that Arthur's return to Australia was aboard HMS Glory. He was admitted to 110th Australian Base Hospital from 30 Jan 1946 until 6 Feb 1946, and soon after, on 8 Mar 1946 he was back with the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF for discharge which occurred on 19 Mar 1946.
Post War
During 1946 Arthur married Ida Averil Harley in Perth. Ida died on 11 Oct 1999, aged 77.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 4 Bedford street, North Perth, trainee; 1949 at 20 Sixth avenue Maylands, plasterer; 1963 - 1980 at 62 Tuart street, Tuart Hill, carpenter;
Notes
Grave is of Arthur's parents, and may contain Arthur's ashes - cremated at Karrakatta. His suburb at time of death was Yokine.