ECCLES, John Stoppard
| Service Number: | 414664 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 November 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Born: | Salford, England, United Kingdom , 14 March 1922 |
| Home Town: | Thangool, Banana, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Accidental, Boylestone, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, 11 January 1943, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Agecroft Cemetery and Crematorium, UK Sec. 28. Grave 59. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Maryborough No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners' School Memorial Wall, Thangool War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 414664 | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 414664 | |
| 11 Jan 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 414664, Royal Australian Air Force |
Came to the aid of his motherland
John (Jack) was the half Brother of my father David Eccles and was born 14/3/1922 in Salford, Lancashire.
Jack came out to Australia in 1939 at the age of 17 and went to work on a farm in the Callide Valley of Central Queensland (inland from Rockhampton) at a place called Thangool.
After World War II was declared, he enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force and returned to England to defend his home land.
Jack became a Sergeant and was a rear gunner in a Wellington BK405 aircraft.
He was killed when a trainee pilot lost control of his plane and it crashed at Boylestone (3 miles from Church Broughton) in Derbyshire in the UK, killing all four on board.
Date of death 11 January 1943 - just prior to his 21st birthday (March).
David, idolised his Brother so much, that at the age of 17, he emigrated to Australia and went to work on the same farm that his brother had worked on at Thangool.
As a family, we have visited Thangool and visited the farm where both these brothers worked.
David is still alive (aged 91) and lives in Brisbane, Queensland. Their Sister Margaret is aged 96 and lives in the UK. Brother Norman is aged 88 and is still living in the UK.
Jack will always be remembered by his family.
Elaine (Eccles) Smith 08/2023
Submitted 27 July 2023 by Elaine Smith
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