Lawrence Arthur KIRK

KIRK, Lawrence Arthur

Service Number: 407439
Enlisted: 12 October 1940
Last Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit: No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Riverton, South Australia, 10 August 1914
Home Town: Malvern, Unley, South Australia
Schooling: Rhyne Primary School, Riverton High School, Teachers Training College
Occupation: School Teacher
Died: Accidental, Borneo, 15 September 1945, aged 31 years
Cemetery: Labuan War Cemetery
5 C 2, Labuan War Cemetery, Labuan, Malaysia
Tree Plaque: Lower Inman Valley Memory Grove
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Chandada & District WW2 Memorial Trees, Coonalpyn Honour Roll, Coonalpyn Soldiers Memorial Park Gates, Coonalpyn War Memorial, Lower Inman Valley Memory Grove, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour, Riverton & District High School Roll of Honor WW2, Riverton Holy Trinity Anglican Church Honour Roll WW2, Riverton Holy Trinity Anglican Church Kirk/Kleinig Memorial, Victor Harbor Newland Memorial Congregational Church Memorial Window, Victor Harbor War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

12 Oct 1940: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2)
12 Oct 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 407439
7 Dec 1940: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman
3 Jun 1941: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer
3 Dec 1941: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer
1 Apr 1943: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant
22 May 1945: Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

KILLED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT.
The late Flight-Lieut. L. A. Kirk, who was killed in an aircraft accident last week, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Kirk of Lack Valley, born at Riverton, August 10th 1914. He attended the Rhynie Primary, and Riverton High Schools, later attending the Teachers Training College. Joining the Education Department, he filled appointments at Rhynie, Riverton, Ceduna Chandada and Conybeer schools. Flight-Lieut. Kirk enlisted in the R.A.A.F. in May, 1940. His first base was at Pt. Moresby, where he was engaged in piloting Catalinas. He took part in the Coral Sea Battle, and over Rabaul. Later he rendered valuable service in ferrying planes from America to Sydney. With well over 3,000 flying hours to his credit, he was on the point of being released, but after V.P. Day the services of the R.A.A.F. men were sorely needed to carry supplies to our P.O.Ws. in various parts of the Pacific Islands. Flight-Lieut. Kirk was engaged in dropping provisions to P.O.W. camps, when by accident, while operating between Balik Papan and Banjermashin, he was killed on September 15 last. 


His marriage to Miss Peg Smithe, of No. 68 Eton Street, Malvern, took place at the Malvern Church of Christ last December. He was interested in sport, and had won medals and distinction as a footballer. We take this opportunity of expressing to the relations our sympathy in the hour of their bereavement.

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