Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric was the eldest of two children of Alick Francis Reynolds (b1887 in York WA) and Vera May McPherson (b1889 in Sandhurst, Victoria). Alick (a Butcher) and Vera married in 1911 in Perth WA where Alick was a Butcher. He enlisted in the AIF (Private; Service No:6395) with 28 Infantry Battalion and was KiA in Belgium in 1917. Vera remarried in 1928.

Eric worked in Perth WA as a Telegraph Messenger and Shed Hand in Perth, then an Apprentice at Midland Railway Workshops as an Assistant to Fitters, Boilermakers and Blacksmiths. By 1937 Eric had moved to Wiluna where he worked as a Labourer before becoming a Fitter and Boilermaker at Wiluna Gold Mines. In 1940 he married Ivy Grace Dorothy Howson (b1910 in Perth WA) in Wiluna and enlisted in the RAAF in June. Eric was described as 'Very keen ... a good benchman ... good knowledge of metals and processes ... Very good style ... Intelligent' and a 'very steady workman' when he enlisted (National Archives Australia). In 1942 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman and in April 1944 he was attached to 31 Squadron when he was promoted to Corporal. Eric was Discharged in October 1945. Ivy joined her husband in married quarters in Melbourne, Victoria in 1943. Brother Ronald also served in WWII.

The family settled in Geraldton WA where Eric worked as a Labourer and Goods Reporter until the mid 1960s when they relocated to Fremantle WA. Eric listed his occupation in the 1968 Census as 'Seaman'. He died in 1969 and Ivy in 1992.