Please do not copy any material to another website, without prior written approval from the 2/30th Battalion A.I.F. Association.
|
Anglican Church, Bellingen
|
World War 2 memorial display located in the Anglican Church, Bellingen.
The Memorial plaque lists those men and women, members of the Church of England, from Bellingen, who lost their lives during World War 2.
To the Glory of God and In Loving Memory of Those Who Made The Supreme Sacrifice
1939-1945
1) NX70211 - DE MESTRE, Sister Margaret Augusta - 2/1 Hospital Ship, died 19/2/1942
2) NX45627 - BAILEY, Edward Godfrey, Cpl. - 22 Aust Coy, AASC, died 26/6/1940
3) NX38427 - BALLARD, Garnett Maxwell, Pte. - 2/10 Field Ambulance, died 23/3/1945
4) 37471 (RAAF) - BENNETT, William Keith, Pilot Officer, DFC - 69 Squadron, died 24/3/1945
5) 420388 (RAAF) - HOSIER, John Stanley, Flight Sergeant, DFM - 460 Squadron, died 10/4/1944
6) 411439 (RAAF) - BRIGDEN, Clifton Mcleay, Flight Sergeant - 51 Squadron, died 27/4/1943
7) NX133947 (N162292) - BUCKMAN, Russell, Pte. - 65 Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot, died 16/6/1945
8) N161915 - GORDON, Russell Henry, Pte. - 2 Bn. NSW VDC, died 26/5/1943
9) NX47951 - NAGLE, Athol Gervase, L/Sgt. - B Coy. Ord. Room, died 14/1/1942
10) 412972 (RAAF) - KIRKLAND, Kenneth Herbert William, Pilot Officer - 106 Squadron, died 30/1/1944
The HMAHS Manunda display panel is in memory of NX70211 - Sister Margaret Augusta DE MESTRE.
"Sister Margaret DeMestre
The first A.N.C. Nurse serving in the 2nd Australian Imperial Forces to be killed-in-action during World War II.
Sister DeMestre was born in Bellingen on St. Margaret's Day, 16 November 1915.
She grew up in Bellingen and trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney in 1935. In 1940 she enlisted in the [Royal] Australian Nursing Corp and made two trips to the Middle East on the 2/1st Hospital Ship, H.M.A.H.S. Manunda. Whilst the ship was being reconditioned in 1941 she served at the 113th A.G.H Concord. She rejoined the ship in January 1942.
At 10.05am on the 19th February, 1942 Japanese forces bombed Darwin [243 killed, 350 wounded, 8 ships sunk] and the Manunda was badly damaged with 12 killed, including Margaret.
Sister Margaret DeMestre is buried in the Darwin War Cemetery."
|
|
|