Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Mary was born in Coolgardie WA in 1919, the second of four children of Leslie Harold Milne (b1880 in Portland, Victoria) and Lillian Marie Kirk (b1891 in Kent, England) - Lillian emigrated with her mother and sisters, arriving in Fremantle WA in 1913 on board the Australind. Leslie was a Bank Clerk in Norseman WA in 1910, and in 1915 he and Lillian married in Coolgardie WA. Leslie worked in Coolgardie and Menzies as a Bank Clerk and Accountant, and by 1926 was a Bank Manager in Trayning, Toodyay WA. Following Leslie's death in 1934, Lillian and her family moved to Gnowangerup WA. Lillian remarried.

Mary worked as a Waitress and Post Office Telephonist in Gnowangerup and was a Shop Assistant in November 1941 when she enlisted in the WRAAF (Aircraftwoman; Service No:94534). Mary was a Mess Steward and Telephone Operator and in August 1945 was at RAAF Pearce when she was Discharged.

In October 1943 Mary married Ronald George Howson (b1912 in Collie WA) - Ronald was a Craftsman (Service No:WX34438). They were Divorced in 1950 and Mary remarried Douglas William Penny (b1917 in Perth WA) - Douglas served in WWII (Service No:WX25840). Mary was working in Perth WA as a Clerk when she and Douglas married.

Mary and Douglas settled in Perth WA, where Douglas was a Wicker Worker. He died in 1984 and Mary in 2009.