Rupert Percival MALES

Rupert Percival MALES Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

MALES, Rupert Percival

Service Number:	5336
Enlisted:	27 November 1939
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	Royal Australian Air Force
Born:	Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1 June 1915
Home Town:	Hobart, Tasmania
Schooling:	Hobart Junior Technical School, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation:	Houseman-waiter
Died:	Accidental (Ground Accident), Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 10 July 1942, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia A.B.6., Townsville War Cemetery, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

27 Nov 1939:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 5336, Royal Australian Air Force
27 Nov 1939:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 5336
27 Nov 1939:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 5336

Help us honour Rupert Percival Males's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Schools Program

Rupert Percival Males was born in Hobart, Tasmania on June 1915 and grew up there. He moved to Melbourne in early 1939, and gave his address as Parkville in Melbourne (directly across from Carlton’s Princes Park oval) when he enlisted on 27 November 1939. He was working as a houseman-waiter at Kooringa, there.

After enlisting, he trained at the Wireless Air Gunnery School in Ballarat from April 1940 until September 1941. During that time he was promoted to Corporal. In June 1942 he was posted to Townsville.

Shortly after arriving in Townsville, on 7 July 1942, Rupert Males was involved in an accident, when the truck he was a passenger in was hit by an American truck. Due to what the official report described as “an error of judgment” by the American soldier driving the other truck, Rupert and another occupant, Flight Sergeant Lawrence Brown, (/explore/people/803681) sustained serious injuries. Brown recovered after a long stay in hospital, but Rupert died from his head injuries on 10 July.

Rupert’s family were informed by post of his death. His parents were George James Males and Margaret Lydia Males, of Glebe, Tasmania. Rupert is buried at Townsville War Cemetery.

Contributed by Riley and Rupert.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia