Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Vera was the eldest of five children of Arthur Hawken Tunbridge (b1903 in West Hindmarsh, South Australia) and his first wife Irene Clifford (b1895 in Melbourne, Victoria). Arthur (a Wood Merchant) had moved to Toodyay WA with his parents in the early 1900s (his father was a Farmer). He was a Wood Merchant when he and Irene married in 1922 in Perth WA. The couple settled in Guildford WA and following Irene's death in 1930, Arthur remarried in Geraldton in 1934. Arthur lived at Arrino near Kalgoorlei WA where he was a Share Farmer.

Vera had worked as a Shop Assistant at the General Store in Chidlow WA prior to moving to Perth where she worked as a Waitress at The Break O'Day and Moana Tea Rooms in the City. In November 1941 Vera enlisted in the WAAF (Aircraftwoman; Service No:94535) and was a Mess Steward attached to 5 Embarkation Depot when she was Discharged in December 1942. On enlistment, Vera was described as '... neat appearance well kept hands and nails, good average type' (National Archives Australia).

In 1943 Vera married James Francis Keane Haldane (b1919 in Broome WA) - James served in the RAN (Telegraphist: Service No:F/V23) and following his Discharge in 1945 the couple lived in Dandalup and Dwellingup where James was a Forestry Officer. Vera and James moved to Perth in the late 1950s, where James died in 1988. Vera died in 2005.