ATHERTON, William Samuel Charles
| Service Number: | 404322 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Operational Training Units (RAF) |
| Born: | Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia , 20 September 1919 |
| Home Town: | Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Toowoomba Preparatory School, Toowoomba Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Bank Officer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Gibraltar, 9 January 1942, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Gibraltar Memorial, Gibraltar |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gibraltar Memorial, Toowoomba Anglican College Faithful Unto Death, Toowoomba Grammar School WW2 Honour Board, Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW2, Toowoomba WW2 Roll of Honour Book, Toowoomba War Memorial (Mothers' Memorial) |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 404322 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 404322, Operational Training Units (RAF), Brisbane, Qld. | |
| 16 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 404322 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Reverend Samuel Atherton and Frances Marian Atherton, of Toowong, Queensland
Brisbane Airman
Posted Missing
Rev. S. and Mrs. Atherton, of St. Thomas' Rectory, Toowohg, have been notified that their eldest son, Sgt.-Obs. William Samuel Charles Atherton, attached to a bomber squadron in England, was posted missing during air operations on January 9.
Sgt-Obs. Atherton joined the staff of the Commonwealth Bank, head office, Queen Street, in February, 1936. He enrolled and received his papers for the R.A.A.F. on September 6 1939, and between that time and his call-up in August, 1940, served several months with the Militia in the Corps of Signallers.
Brisbane Airman
Killed in Action
Rev. S. and Mrs. Atherton, of St. Thomas' Rectory. Toowong, who recently were advised by the Air Board that their son, Sgt.-Obs. William Samuel Charles Atherton, had been reported 'Missing on January 3,' now have received advice that he 'lost his life as a result of air operations near Gibraltar. His body was recovered and subsequently buried at sea.' Sgt. Atherton was 22. He received his early Air Force training at Bradfield Park and, in January, 1941, went to Canada. After further training he went on to England. He was one of a number chosen in August last to navigate bombers across the Atlantic and in November was appointed to an operational squadron.
Sergeant William Atherton was an Air Observer and crew member of No. 15 Operational Training Unit Royal Air Force Wellington Bomber, Z Zebra, that went missing in air operations near Gibraltar on 9th January 1942. The aircraft which was proceeding to Malta went down into the sea, just before midnight, near Europa Point, Gibraltar. The Air Ministry advised his father residing at 67 High Street, Toowong, Brisbane, that he was missing as a result of air operations and believed killed. His father was advised on 4th February 1942 that his body was recovered and subsequently buried at sea. His body was recovered by the Royal Navy vessel “H.M.S. Westcott” 20 miles east of Gibraltar but operational conditions prevented the body being brought to shore for burial and it was subsequently committed to the deep. At the time of his death Charles Atherton was 22 years of age.
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