KIRKWOOD, Gilbert
| Service Number: | 15968 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 July 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA, 15 May 1912 |
| Home Town: | Bondi, Waverley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fitter |
| Died: | Currawong, New South Wales, Australia, 25 October 1977, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 15968 | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1947: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 15968 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Gilbert was the youngest of ten children of John Kirkwood (b1864 in Lanarkshire, Scotland) and Elizabeth Davies (b1869 in Mt Egerton, Victoria). John (a Coal Miner) arrived in Brisbane QLD in 1885 on board the Gulf of Carpentaria. John and Elizabeth married in 1887 in Minmi NSW where they lived before moving to Bondi in Sydney NSW.
Gilbert started out as an Apprentice Fitter and Turner with Chubbs Aust Coy and was a Turner living in Bondi, Sydney NSW when he enlisted in the RAAF in July 1940 (Aircraftman; Service No:15968). He was a Leading Aircraftman attached to 2 Aircraft Depot Richmond in April 1941 when he transferred to the Air Force Reserves at the request of his employer (Chubbs and Coy) because of the shortage of skilled tradesmen - Gilbert was needed to work on the machining of Breech Blocks and Rings for guns. In January 1947 Gilbert was Discharged from the RAAF.
In 1942 Gilbert had married Florence Edna Dyson (b1909 in Perth WA) in Sydney NSW, where the couple settled and Gilbert worked as a Turner. In the mid 1970s Gilbert retired and he and Florence relocated to Nowra, NSW. Gilbert died in 1977.