Page 48 - Memorial Groves
P. 48

PLAQUE NO 77:                                                      PLAQUE NO 78:                                       El Alamein   &   India

            Gnr Frank Alexander Butterick (1923)                              Lieut. Sefton Albert


            14th Bty; 2/7 Artillery Regt                                      Perkins (1924-27)
            Killed In Action: El Alamein
            23 October 1942. Age 34                                                                                                PLAQUE 79:                                        PLAQUE 80:
                                                                              2/43 Battalion
                                                                              Killed in Action: El Alamein
            Frank was from a farming family in Wagin and came to Hale School as a   12 November, 1942                              Cpl John Aubrey [Jack]                            Plt/Off Bruce McKenzie
            boarder in 1923. He was a prefect in his final year, Captain of Haynes House
            (which in those days was the Boarding House), a member of both the 1st XI and   Sefton came from Wagin and
            1st XVIII and a good tennis player.                                                                                    Sherwood (1927-28)                                Ferguson (1928-33)
                                                                              boarded at Hale School. His
                                                                              nickname at School was “Snowy”; he
            After leaving School he joined the Union Bank and was still with them when he   was a quiet fellow according to his    2/28th Infantry Battalion                         11 Squadron RAF
            joined the army after World War II broke out. He was, at that time, engaged to   contemporaries but was in the School   Died of Wounds: El Alamein                       Killed in Action: India
            be married to a girl in Bunbury.                                                                                       8 November 1942. Age 29                           17 January 1943. Age 24
                                                                              athletics team and played for the 1st
                                                                              XI in his final two years.
            He trained as a gunner and was posted to the 14th Battery of the 2/7th Field                                           Jack attended Hale School from Bridgetown in 1928-29   Bruce was the son of pastoralist Charles Ferguson of
            Artillery Regiment and travelled with them to the Middle East.                                                         and after leaving school he became involved in the motor   Tambery Station on the North-West of Western Australia.
                                                                              He joined the army in 1941, was
                                                                              posted to the 2/43rd Infantry                        trade both in Perth and Geraldton.                He entered Hale School as a ten year old in 1928 and left
            On the first day of battle, Gunner Frank Butterick was manning an Artillery   Battalion, and went to the Middle                                                          in 1933. He was an excellent gymnast, according to the
            Observation post in the coastal sector of El Alamein when the post received a   East as a re-enforcement officer not   When WWII broke out he joined the 2/28th Infantry   Cygnet of the period, and was cox of the winning Head of
            direct hit from an enemy shell. He was killed instantly.                                                               Battalion and went with them to the Middle Eastern   the River crew in 1933.
                                                                              long before the Battle of El Alamein.
                                                                              On the night of 11/12 November he                    Theatre. With his battalion he was subsequently involved
            Dedicated by Hale School                                          and another officer led a fighting                   in the Battle of El Alamein and was commended for his   During the war he was accepted for pilot training in the
            Placed by Old Haleian Mr Keith Potter (1935-37), who also served at the   patrol out into enemy lines in an            exceptional bravery in the action at Ruin Ridge.   Empire Air Training Scheme and on gaining his wings was
            Battle of El Alamein with the Western Australian 2/28th Battalion.                                                                                                       posted to India where he was taken on the strength of No
                                                                              attempt to capture a prisoner for
                                                                              intelligence purposes. Unfortunately                 The day after the battle had been won Jack and a friend   11 Bomber Squadron of the Royal Air Force.
                                                                              they were detected and in the                        drove a jeep along a road that was purported to be safe.
                                                                              exchange that followed he and his                    Unfortunately the vehicle slipped off the side of the road   He was killed in action while on an operation against
                                                                              brother officer were killed.                         and the two soldiers were blown up by a mine.     enemy positions in Burma.

                                                                              Dedicated by Hale School                             He left a wife and infant daughter.               The School prize for the best all-round sportsman (the
                                                                              Laid by Old Haleian, Mr Harry                                                                          Bruce Ferguson Memorial Trophy) was donated by Bruce’s
                                                                              Jarman (1936-39) who also served                     Dedicated by his family                           family many years ago and is still awarded to this day.
                                                                              at the Battle of El Alamein with the                 Placed by the daughter he had never seen, Mrs Robin
                                                                              Australian 2/48th Infantry Battalion.                Andrews.                                          Dedicated by his family
                                                                                                                                                                                     Placed by two of his cousins, Haleian Mr Charles
                                                                                                                                                                                     Ferguson (1927-30) and Mrs Min Plunkett.
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