Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Eunice Gloria Fleay (Service No:WF91671) served in the AWAS from 27 August 1942 to 30 January 1946 - mustered as Signalman. Private Fleay, attached to 5 Fort Signals Section LHQ and HQ Signals, was one of four siblings to serve in the Military - eldest brother Victor was KiA in New Guinea, Ivan  served in the AIF with 2/8 Infantry Battalion and younger brother Colin enlisted in the RAAF in 1947.

Eunice was born in Wagin, Western Australia in 1923, fourth of six children of Norris Charles Victor Fleay (b1890 at Arthur River, Western Australia) and Cecilia May Dowsett (b1893 in Pingelly, Western Australia). Norris, working as a Survey Hand in Wagin in 1917, and Cecilia married in Williams and settled in Pingelly. Norris worked as a Survey Hand and Labourer before he and Cecilia moved in the mid 1920s to Lake Grace, where they raised their family and Norris was a Farmer.

Following Eunice's discharge from the Army in January 1946, she lived in Launceston Tasmania, where she worked as a Saleswoman and lived with her de facto, Edward Noel Thorpe (b1919 in Unley, Western Australia) - Edward had served in the AIF, and was separated from his wife when he and Eunice met.  Edward worked as a Tram Conductor/Motorman in Launceston, and in 1949 enlisted in the RAAF before discharging in 1950. Eunice and Edward married in Melbourne in 1953 following Edward's divorce, and  moved to Pingaring, where Edward was a Farmer. Eunice and Edward divorced in the early 1960s, and both remarried - Eunice to Kurt Luther (b1905 in Germany). Kurt was a Farmer at Lake Grace, and following his death in 1963, Eunice managed the farm until her death in 1981.