Murray William COLLETT

Murray William COLLETT Update Details

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COLLETT, Murray William

Service Number:	45044
Enlisted:	16 June 1941
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	RAAF Garbutt
Born:	East Perth, Western Australia, 13 January 1909
Home Town:	Perth, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Ganger (Main Roads)
Died:	Perth, Western Australia, 14 January 1968, aged 59 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

16 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 45044
10 Aug 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 12 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Feb 1945:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, RAAF Garbutt
12 Dec 1945:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 45044, RAAF Garbutt

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Corporal Murray William Collett (Service No:45044) enlisted in the RAAF as an Aircraftman 1 (mustered as Guard) on 16 June 1941, and was described in his Attestation Papers as 'A good type, wiry and sensible' (National Archives Australia). Mustered as a Guard and promoted to Leading Aircraftman (10 August 1942) and Corporal (1 February 1945) he served with 12 Squadron and 9 EFTS and was attached to Garbutt (Townsville) at Discharge on 12 December 1945.

Murray was born in 1909 in Perth WA, third of nine children of Hugh Collett (b1882 in Guernsey on the Channel Islands) and Esther Mary Veronica Hall Jackson (b1881 in Perth, WA). Hugh immigrated in 1884 with his parents and siblings, arriving in Fremantle, WA on board the Glen Goil. Hugh (a Librarian) and Esther married in 1903 in Perth, WA where they settled and raised their family and Hugh worked as a Librarian, Clerk, Librarian Assistant and Labourer, and served in both WWI and WWII.

Murray worked for Main Roads as a Ganger and in 1931 in Blackwood, WA married Sarah Jane (Jenny) Thackeray (b1915 in Perth, WA). Following his Discharge from the RAAF, Murray and Jenny settled in Nyamup where Murray was a Timber Worker until the late 1950s when they moved to Perth and Murray worked as a Crane Driver. Murray died in 1968 and Jenny in 1998.

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