Bernard William (Bernie) GILBRIDE

GILBRIDE, Bernard William

Service Number: W62314
Enlisted: 21 April 1942
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 12th (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Mundijong, Western Australia, 23 October 1914
Home Town: Jarrahdale, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Schooling: Jarrahdale Primary School, Western Australia
Occupation: Log Hauler/Tractor Driver
Died: Mundijong, Armadale, Western Australia, 16 April 2011, aged 96 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Jarrahdale Cemetery
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

21 Apr 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, W62314, 12th (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Date unknown: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, W62314, 12th (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

Help us honour Bernard William Gilbride's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

The youngest of two children of William (Bill) Patrick Gilbbride (b1886 in Canning WA) and Florence Maude Alexander (b1894 in Redcliffe WA), Bernie was born in Mundijong WA and attended Jarrahdale Primary School. Bernie's parents settled in Jarrahdale WA, where his ftaher Bill worked at the Jarrahdale Timber Mill as a Labourer, Mill Hand and Teamster.

Bernie started work at the Jarrahdale Timber Mill and was a Forestry Worker in 1940 when he married Millie Lillian Powell (b1912 in Wongong, Armadale, WA). The couple settled in Jarrahdale where Bernie was working at the mill as a Log Hauler/Tractor Driver when he enlisted in the ACMF in March 1942. He was a Private (Service No:W6767) attached to No 2 Battalion VDC in Armadale when he transferred to No 12 Battalion (Jarrahdale) VDC in February 1944 ans was allocated the Service No:W62314. Bernie was Discharged in 1945 with Demobilisation at the end of the War.

Bernie and Minnie remained in Jarrahdale WA where Bernie was a Forestry Worker until the 1960s when they retired to Mundijong WA. Bernie's niece (Elizabeth Eden) said in 2009 'He is caring, compassionate, humble, a wonderful storyteller, a great humanitarian....', Minnie died in 2001 and Bernie in 2011.

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