'Des' as he was known to his mates was born at Waverley, NSW on 19th October 1919 and enlisted 18th July 1940.
After training as an instrument maintainer he joined No 457 Squadron RAAF (Spitfires). When doing research on many of the fellows we have asked their mates who have survived. Ron Lambert another Erk with whom he served recalled that there was indeed a human side to our friend Des.
Ron recalls, “A girl Des was engaged to, returned his ring so he hocked it and bought a bottle of Champagne. His mates helped him drown his sorrows. A friendly policeman suggested that they return to camp and by that time Des had to be carried back by his mates”. It must have been a bigger bottle of champagne than Des was used to.
Later during his service he re-mustered as aircrew. He was discharged on 18th January 1946 from No 11 Personnel Depot.
He became a member of Richmond RSL, NSW and later the Cessnock Branch.
Des, like thousands of other ‘ERKS’ formed the back-bone of the Spitfire Squadrons; serving aircraft in the bitter cold of the UK and then the stifling heat and humidity of The Top End
