Page 42 - Memorial Groves
P. 42

Killed in Action                                                                                                       PLAQUE NO 70:                                      PLAQUE NO 71:


                                                                                                                                   Fl Lt John Henry William
                                                                                                                                                                                     F/O Eric Francis Kennedy Pearse
                                                                                                                                   Saunders (1936-37)                                (1925-29)


             PLAQUE NO 69:                                                                                                         3 Sqn RAAF:                                       113 Sqn RAF

            Lieut. Robert Neville Rose                                                                                             Killed In Action, Egypt                           Killed In Action: Burma/India
                                                                                                                                                                                     23 May 1942. Age 29
                                                                                                                                   22 October 1941. Age 21
            (1928-31)                                                                                                              John lived in Cottesloe, first went to Christchurch   Eric came from ‘Nalbarra Station’ at Mount Magnet and
                                                                                                                                   Grammar and then to Hale School in 1936 and 1937 for
                                                                                                                                                                                     attended Hale School between 1925 and 1929. He was a
                                                                                                                                   the final two years of schooling. He was a member of the   prefect, captain of the 1st XI and runner-up as champion
            2/16th Battalion                                                                                                       1st XI, the 1st XVIII, the Inters athletics team and was a   athlete in his final year; he was also on the Cygnet
            Killed In Action: Syria                                                                                                School prefect in Sixth Form.                     committee.
            7th July 1941. Age 26
                                                                                                                                   On the outbreak of hostilities he volunteered for the air   He worked for the Elders stock firm for three years
            Neville was known as “Nibbler” at School. He attended as                                                               force and after the training period with the Empire Air   then returned to farming but on the outbreak of war
            a boarder from Burekup between 1928 and 1931. He was a                                                                 Training Scheme he was posted to the Middle Eastern   volunteered for the air force and was selected to undergo
            left hand opening bat and a leg spin bowler for the 1st XI.                                                            Theatre. He flew Tomahawk fighter aircraft with No 3   training as a pilot in the Empire Air Training Scheme at
                                                                                                                                   Squadron RAAF in the North African campaign against   Cunderdin, then Geraldton. After gaining his wings he was
            After leaving School he returned to the farm but after the                                                             German and Italian forces.                        posted to India and joined Number 113 Squadron of the
            outbreak of the Second World War he joined the 2/16th                                                                                                                    Royal Air Force, flying bombing operations in Blenheim
            Battalion. He was promoted to acting-sergeant soon after                                                               Dedicated by his family                           aircraft against Japanese positions over the border into
            and was then commissioned Lieutenant before the unit                                                                   Placed by his Haleian brother Mark (1956-61),     Burma.
            went into action in Syria in June 1941.                                                                                assisted by nephew Josh Saunders (2000-04).
                                                                                                                                                                                     On the 22nd May, 1942, when returning from a successful
            He was killed in action in an engagement at the Damour                                                                                                                   operation against enemy positions, Flying Officer Pearse’
            River as the battalion entered the final phase of the thrust                                                                                                             aircraft struck severe turbulence and dropped a thousand
            toward the capture of Beirut and the final surrender of the                                                                                                              feet through an air pocket to hit the ground. All on board
            Vichy French forces.                                                                                                                                                     were killed
            Dedicated by his family.                                                                                                                                                 Dedicated by his family
            Placed by his Haleian brother, Mr Forrest Rose (1926-30)                                                                                                                 Laid by his Old Haleian brother Colin Pearse (1925-27),
            and Mrs Rose, assisted by Haleian nephew Robert Rose                                                                                                                     assisted by his sisters Betty Holmes and Loris Pearse.
            (1960-64) and great-nephew, Robert Rose (1997-02) of
            Wilson House.

                                                                                                                                                                                     Eric Pearse
                                                                              Robert Neville (Nibbler) Rose
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