Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gordon was the youngest of five children of Richard (Dick) Brogden Greaves (b1887 in Lancashire, England) and Mary Alice Cross (b1879 in Lancashire, England). Dick was a Labourer in 1910 when he left England, arriving in Fremantle WA in February 1911 on board the Orontes. Mary - a Cotton Winder - arrived in Fremantle WA on board the Belgic on 9 November 1911 and three days later she and Dick married. The couple settled near Toodyay WA where Dick worked initially as a Farmer before joining the WA Railways in 1915. In the 1930s the family moved to Duranilla and Bowerling, where Dick was a Ganger with the WA Railways until 1948.

Gordon was working at Bokal near Wagin WA as a Farm Labourer when he enlisted in the RAAF in November 1941. He had served in the Militia (3 February 1939 - 30 May 1939) as a Trooper with the 10th Light Horse Regiment. Gordon became a Wireless Operator, Sergeant, Flight Sergeant and Warrant Officer (Service No:425579) and was based in the UK when he married Eunice Rawsthorne (b1921 in Lancashire, England) in December 1943. Gordon was severely injured in an 'ops accident' on 13 September 1943 - according to the Consultant in Plastic Surgery in 1944 (National Archives Australia) 'This man has had a severe burning of both hands and face. His hands were extremely severe with exposed extensor tendons. He has been fully grafted by W/Cdr GT Morley, with the most beautiful result. It is agreed, however, that he should be repatriated as he will be grounded and would do much better at home than here'. Gordon returned to Australia with Eunice in 1944 and was Discharged in 1945.

Gordon and Eunice settled in Perth, where Gordon worked as a Storeman. He died in 1995 and Eunice in 2014.