COLLETT, Laurie Milburn Brayley
| Service Number: | 16877 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2 |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, 23 December 1908 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Hale School, Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Garage Proprietor |
| Died: | Perth, Western Australia, 1 March 1964, aged 55 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 18 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 16877, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1941: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 16877, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2, Egypt | |
| 15 Jun 1943: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 16877, RTA - Medically Boarded | |
| 1 Aug 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2 | |
| 3 Nov 1944: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 16877, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Corporal Laurie Milburn Collett (Service No:16877) enlisted in the RAAF as an Aircraftman I on 18 June 1940 with 4 Service Flying Training School (mustered as a Fitter). Promoted to Leading Aircraftman in Egypt, LAC Collett served with 35 and 49 Squadrons and was medically boarded on 18 March 1943, and on 15 June 1943 embarked for Fremantle. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 August 1943 and was attached to 35 Squadron at Discharge on 3 November 1944.
Laurie was born in 1908 in Perth WA, youngest of three children of Herbert Brayley Collett (b1877 in Guernsey, Channel Islands) and Annie Eliza Whitfield (b1879 in Perth, WA). Hebert had immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1884, arriving in Fremantle, WA on board the Glen Goil. hebert (a Librarian) and Annie married in 1904 in Perth, WA where they raised their family and Herbert was a Librarian, Soldier and Politician.
Laurie served with the Hale School Cadtes and completed a Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship, working as a Mechanic in Perth and York. In the 1930's he worked for the Agricultural Bank as Foreman in charge of Unemployment Camps at Mt Barker and Pemberton. In 1938 in Perth WA, Laurie married Edna Mary Thom (b1907 in Perth, WA). Laurie and Edna settled in Perth where Laurie was a Garage Proprietor before enlisting in the RAAF. Following his Discharge, Laurie and Edna lived in Perth, where Laurie was a Civil Servant (Chief Inspector) with the Department of Air. Laurie died in 1964 and Edna in 2000.
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