Mavis Myrtle BURROWES

BURROWES, Mavis Myrtle

Service Number: 91725
Enlisted: 10 January 1942, Adelaide
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 4 Embarkation Depot
Born: Tanunda, South Australia, 11 October 1914
Home Town: Brighton, Holdfast Bay, South Australia
Schooling: Unknown
Occupation: Cook instructress
Died: Died of Illness, Adelaide, South Australia, 15 August 1943, aged 28 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
Plot M, Row A, Grave 5
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Daw Park Repatriation Hospital WW2 Women of the Armed Forces Who Died HR, St Marys SA Army Nursing Sisters/Women Memorial Wall
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World War 2 Service

10 Jan 1942: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 91725
10 Jan 1942: Enlisted Adelaide
10 Jan 1942: Enlisted 91725, Adelaide, South Australia
10 Jan 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 91725
15 Aug 1943: Involvement Corporal, 91725, 4 Embarkation Depot, Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces

Help us honour Mavis Myrtle Burrowes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by John Edwards

Daughter of Albert Willis and Emma Matilda OBST and Wife of William Thomas BURROWES 

"A district WAAAF, Cpl. Mavis Myrtle Burrowes, of Rowlands Flat, passed over in the course of her duties, and was accorded an impressive Royal Air Force funeral. Born at Rowlands Flat on October 11, 1914, as only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Obst, she in 1936 married Mr. William Thos. Burrowes, an employee of the S.A. railways. At the outbreak of war Mrs. Burrowes joined the Women's Air Training Corps as a voluntary fabric worker at Parafield. In May 1941 Ms. Burrowes was re-mustered as a cook at the Exhibition building, and then transferred to the Food School at Melbourne, first being sworn in as a WAAAF. She returned as an instructor of cooking at the Immanuel College buildings, Adelaide, every six weeks turning out a fresh batch of recruits. Some months previous to her illness her health was impaired but she held on until compelled to seek sick leave, and after hospital, rather suddenly passed away. She was in her 29th year. The remains were accorded an impressive Air Force funeral. The Union Jack draped casket, with her Air Force cap resting on a cushion at the head, was conveyed shoulder-high to a gun carriage by six airmen, with the WAAAF personnel marching, preceding the gun carriage. After the casket was lowered, three Air Force officers and a WAAAF officer, marched to the open grave, saluted, and with-drew. Pastor Proeve officiated at the graveside." - from the Gawler Bunyip 03 Sep 1943 (nla.gov.au)

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Mavis was born Mavis Myrtle OBST on 11th October, 1914 in Tanunda, South Australia

Her parents were Albert Wilhelm Theodor OBST and Matilda Emma KLEEMANN

She married William Thomas BURROWES on 4th July 1936 in St Stephens Lutheran Church, Adelaide.

Mavis joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 10th January, 1942 - she was with the Womens Auxillary- Australian Air Force (4 Embarkation Depot (WAAF) and was a Corporal

She died of Illness on 15th Auust, 1943 at the RAAF Wing Royal Adelaide Hospital

Mavis is buried in Centennial Park Cemetery in Adelaide & was given an Air Force Funeral - she is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2249913/BURROWES,%20MAVIS%20MYRTLE (www.cwgc.org)

http://www.raafdb.com/view_casualty.asp?id=3295 (www.raafdb.com)

http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=R&VeteranId=934323 (www.ww2roll.gov.au)

News Adelaide - 16th August 1943

DEATHS - BURROWES - On August 15 at Adelaide.  Corporal Mavis Myrtle Burrowes  (WAAF) beloved wife of William Thomas Burrowes of 30 Green St. St Morris and loving only daughter of Mrs. & Mrs. Obst of Rowlands Flat and sister of Perce; aged 29 years.  Sadly missed.  Air Force Funeral

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