Stanley Neil BUTCHER

BUTCHER, Stanley Neil

Service Numbers: W20260, 427997
Enlisted: 1 March 1941
Last Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit: No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Perth, Western Australia, 3 October 1920
Home Town: Moora, Moora, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmhand
Died: York, Western Australia, 16 March 1955, aged 34 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

1 Mar 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, W20260
12 Oct 1942: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, W20260
13 Oct 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 427997
23 Sep 1943: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Airman Pilot, General Duties Branch
23 Mar 1944: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 73 Squadron (RAAF)
23 Sep 1945: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
24 Jan 1946: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 427997

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Born in 1920 in Shackleton in the Wheatbelt Region of WA, Stan was the only child of Neil Stanley Butcher (b1889 in Wungong WA) and Eunice Doris Champion (b1894 in Ballarat, Victoria. Neil (a Farmer) and Eunice married in 1918 in Canning WA and settled in Shackleton where Neil was a Farmer. Eunice had arrived in Canning WA with her parents and siblings in the early 1900s. Neil died suddenly during a visit to Ballarat Victoria in 1924 and in 1931 Eunice remarried to Percy Melville Douglas (b1890 in Albany WA) - Percy was a Farmer, and in 1942 was an Able Seaman on board the MV Koolama when it was bombed by the Japanese - Percy was one of the party who walked overland to Pago Mission.

In March 1941 Stan was a Farmhand in Moora WA when he enlisted in the ACMF (Corporal) and was attached to 25 Light Horse (MG) Regiment when he Discharged to enlist in the RAAF in October 1942. Starting off as Air Crew (Service No:427997), Stan was awarded his Flying Badge at No 4 SFTS on 17 September 1943, progressing to Flying Officer in March 1944 and Flight Lieutenant in September 1945. Stan flew DH 82As and Avro Ansons as Captain and Catalinas as second Pilot. He served in the Northern Territory (23 September 1945 - 14 November 1945) and in the South West Pacific twice (17 January 1944 - 23 July 1944 with 73 Squadron and 2 February 1945 - 26 October 1945 with 20 Squadron). Stan was a Flight Lieutenant attached to 20 Squadron when he Discharged in January 1946.

Stan settled in York WA after his Discharge, and was a Farmer in 1947 when he married Patricia Mary White (b1921 in Narrogin, WA) - Patricia grew up in York, and was a Teacher in Beverley WA. The couple settled in York, where Stan was a Farmer. Following Stan's death in 1955, Patricia remarried in 1957 (Roy Heal) and died in 2013.

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