Richard Roslyn (Dick) SINCLAIR

SINCLAIR, Richard Roslyn

Service Number: A35582
Enlisted: 4 December 1947, Fremantle, Western Australia
Last Rank: Sub Lieutenant
Last Unit: No. 805 Squadron (RAN)
Born: Nedlands, Western Australia, 14 May 1929
Home Town: Claremont, Western Australia
Schooling: Claremont State School, Hale School , Perth & W.A. University
Occupation: Trainee School teacher/Arts Student
Died: Killed In Action, North Korea, 7 December 1951, aged 22 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Sub Lieutenant Sinclair was killed in aircraft action and his body was recovered and buried at sea
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, East Rockingham Korean War Roll of Honour, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Wembley Downs Hale School Honour Roll 2, Wembley Downs Hale School Memorial Grove
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Non Warlike Service

4 Dec 1947: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, A35582, Fremantle, Western Australia

Korean War Service

25 Jun 1950: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Sub Lieutenant, No. 805 Squadron (RAN), RAN Operations - Korea
31 Aug 1951: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Sub Lieutenant
7 Dec 1951: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Sub Lieutenant, A35582, No. 805 Squadron (RAN), RAN Operations - Korea

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Richard Roslyn SINCLAIR was born on 14th May, 1929 in Nedlands, Western Australia

His parents were Alexander William SINCLAIR and Jessie Jean ANNEAR who had married in 1920 in Perth, Western Australia

Richard married Naomi Edith FERGUSON on 3rd June 1950 in Westminster in London, UK - one son Roger who was 14 weeks old when his Father died.  Naomi was born on 1st October 1930 in Donegal, Ireland & had come to Australia with her son & husband on the ship Orcades in August 1950 arriving in Fremantle WA

After Richards death she returned to England with son Roger on the Orcades arriving in Southampton on 29th February, 1952.  She died on 21st February, 2011 in Dorking, Surrey , UK

Richard was killed in an aircraft action when he was heavily strafed & forced to bail out only to hit his head on the tail of his Sea Fury & his body was recovered & buried at sea - a burial service was held for him on HMAS Sydney that day

His Father Alexander William SINCLAIR (SN8708) served in WW1 and also in WW2 (W237581) & returned to Australia

His brother Ian Roslyn SINCLAIR served in the Army in WW2 (SN5279) and another brother Kenneth Roslyn SINCLAIR served in the Army in WW2 (W30530) & the Royal Australian Air Force (SN429746)  both returned safely

There are several stories written by his wife Naomi which have some wonderful information (see links)

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PILOTS DEATH IN ACTION - West Australian, Perth 10th Dec 1951

A West Australian, who was one of six chosed from 2000 applicants throughout Australia for the first Fleet Air Arm training course by the Royal Australian Navy in 1948, was killed in action over North Korea on Friday.  He was Sub Lieut. Richard Roslyn Sinclair (22) pictured, of the aircraft carrier H.M.A.S. Sydney whose parents, Mr & Mrs Alex W Sinclair of Reserve St, Claremont, received news of his death on Saturday,

Educated at the Claremont State School & Hale School he was outstanding in athletics and was studying at the University of WA for an Arts degree when he joined the Navy.  He topped his course at Point Cook before leaving for England for further training and on his return to Australia in August 1950 underwent an officers & seamanship course which he headed on completion in March, 1951 and was then commissioned.  While in England, he married and brought his wife to Australia.  Mrs. Sinclair and their 3 months old son are living at Nowra, NSW.  Sub Lieutenant Sinclair had been stationed in H.M.A.S. Sydney since the beginning of the year.

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