Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Rootsweb ID: I547371 Birth Record 6 April 1909 in St Peters, South Australia
(SA Births 1907 - 1928, Book : 820 Page : 238 District : Nor.)

Father William Herbert IFOULD and Mother Carrie Eugenie Ifould (nee FOALE),
lived at 1405 Pacific Highway, Turramurra, New South Wales

Eldest of three brothers.

403744   RAAF - Flight Lieutenant Elton Murray Ifould, No. Personnel Depot (2 A/C P)
              b. 29/11/1910 St Peters, SA
              d. 21/9/1944 plane crash in service, at Bankstown, NSW
              cremated in: Northern Suburbs Memorial & Crematorium, Chatswood, NSW
                                 Section: Wall 16

PM/V 39  NAVY - Lieutenant Frank Henry Ifould, 1016 Motor Launch
              b. 30/8/1912 Adelaide, SA
              d. 29/6/1944 - on return to Australia, his ship was torpedoed and sunk
              His name is commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 93, Column 1.
              His name is also commemorated on Panel 9a at the Australian War Memorial, 
              Canberra, ACT.

After the family moved to Sydney, Edward was educated at Turramurra College
and North Sydney Boys’ High School.

In 1926 he joined the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd; he worked as a production chemist
in the company’s factories in North Queensland and New South Wales.

A keen sportsman, he joined Palm Beach Surf Life-Saving Club and Northern Districts Hockey Club,
Sydney, and in 1931 was a member of the NSW Andrews Pennant hockey team. He played Rugby
League football at Innisfail, QLD, and belonged to Tweed Heads Golf Club, NSW.

Described on enlisting as 31yrs old; single; 5' 8" tall; 145 lbs; dark complexion;
brown eyes; brown hair; Church of England

22/7/1940       enlisted into RAAF in Sydney, New South Wales

13/2/1941 -     completed No.4 Air Observers Course
6/3/1941

1/3/1941         awarded "Air Observers Badge"

14/3/1941       ranked Pilot Officer

8/4/1941         embarked at Sydney, NSW for overseas
5/5/1941         disembarked into Egypt

Dec 1941 -
July 1942         In the UK, Pilot Officer Ifould completed two operational and one
                      non-operational tour comprising 46 operations with the Pathfinder Force and
                      18 operations with the main force Bomber Command.   During this period,
                      Squadron Leader Ifould served with No.97 Squadron (RAF), and received a
                      DFC & Bar and MID - for his outstanding service in bombing operations over Germany.

14/3/1942       promoted to Flying Officer

28/4/1942       London Gazette - awarded "Distinguished Flying Cross" (DFC)
                      'for the part he played in the low-level daylight attack on Augsberg
                      in southern Germany on 17/4/1942"
                      "On 17/4/1942 force Lancaster heavy bomber detailed to deliver attack in
                        daylight on Diesel engine factory Augsburg Southern Germany.  To reach
                        this highly important military target and return a most daring flight  of
                        some 900 miles over hostile territory was necessary.  Soon after enemy
                        territory was entered flying very low level force engaged by superior number
                        enemy fighters.  Later most intense accurate anti-aircraft fire encountered.
                        Despite this formidable violent evasive tactics neccessitated considerable
                        proportion of force succeeded reaching target and delivered successful
                        attack on factory almost at time planed.
                        Ifould displayed courage, fortitude and skill of highest order."

1/1/1943         London Gazette - awarded "Mention in Despatches"

28/1/1943       London Gazette - awarded "Bar" to the DFC
                      Citation:
                      "One night in January 1943, Flight Lieutenant Ifould was navigator of
                        aircraft detailed to lead bombing force against target in Rhur.  Precise
                        aiming was essential and this officer displayed skills of the highest order
                        achieved purpose exactly as planned.  Following night he again faultlessly
                        completed another sortie in similar circumstances."

14/3/1943       ranked Temporary Flight Lieutenant

July-Nov 1943  served with No.109 Squadron

In September-November he was a member of an RAF delegation visiting Washington, and its
representative during United States Army trials of special radar equipment.

5/11/1943       reported to HQ from RAF Delegation Washington, USA
                      In USA on attachment from UK Dorval

12/11/1943     proceeded by air from HQ 45, enroute to Kuala Lumphur

Back in Britain, Ifould was posted to headquarters, Pathfinder Force, then in January 1944 to
headquarters, No.100 (Special Duties) Group, where he became group navigation officer.

The most decorated Navigator in the RAAF.

13/5/1944       arrived Washington, USA
20/5/1944       entrained New York for San Francisco - proceeding on return to Australia

1/7/1944         Promoted to Squadron Leader

10/7/1944       proceeded on duty to East Sale, Sydney, NSW and Rathmines by air
20/7/1944       returned by rail and air

23/7/1944       proceeded on duty to Darwin, Milne Bay, Port Moresby and Townsville by ari
17/8/1944       returned by air
                      proceeded on temporary duty outside the mainland of Australia

27/9/1944       proceeded on duty to Sydney

Squadron Leader with RAAF HQ (DOR-OR NAV)

25/11/1944      discharged from service

25/11/1944      transferred from RAAF to RAAF Reserves

3/2/1945         "married"  Mary Frankcomb (née Blackwood, a pilot’s widow with a young daughter)
                       at St James’s Church of England, King Street, Sydney

Edward returned to CSR and rose to Managing Director of CSR Chemicals Pty Ltd before his retirement in 1971.

He was later a Director of Marbon Chemical (Australia) Pty Ltd, William Adams & Co. Ltd, QUF Industries Ltd and
New Guinea Goldfields Ltd.

Two of his passions were surfing and golf. He was president (1972-79) of the Elanora Country Club and a
member of the Board of the Australia Club. Sailing was another love; he had been a crew member aboard
the sloop Struen Marien - it won the Sydney to Hobart race in 1951.

Survived by his wife and their two daughters and son, and by his stepdaughter.

29/1/1981        he passed away at Wahroonga, Sydney, NSW
cremated in:     Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Chatswood, NSW
                       Section: Wall 12

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  10/7/2016.  Lest we forget.