Harold Wallace (Hal) ROBERTS

Harold Wallace (Hal) ROBERTS Update Details

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ROBERTS, Harold Wallace

Service Number:	409225
Enlisted:	20 July 1941
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	No. 77 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Camberwell, Victoria, Australia, 24 June 1921
Home Town:	Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling:	Melbourne Boys' High School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Public Servant - Clerk
Died:	Yokine, Western Australia, 8 September 1978, aged 57 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
Memorials:	Maryborough Staff Pilots No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners' School RAAF Honour Board

World War 2 Service

20 Jul 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 409225
1 May 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 2 Operational Training Unit Mildura
1 Nov 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF)
18 Apr 1945:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 409225

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Warrant Officer Harold Wallace Roberts (Service No:409225) enlisted in the RAAF as an Aircraftman II on 20 July 1941 and during that year was attached to No 4 Initial Taining School (ITS) Victor Harbour, No 1 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Parafield and was promoted to Leading Aircraftman in September. In 1942 LAC Roberts was attached to No 5 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Uranquinty, No 2 Embarkation Depot (ED), No 11 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Benalla, No 3 Wireless Air Gunnery School (WAGS) Maryborough and Central Flying School (CFS) Sale. In May 1943 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and attached to 2 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Mildura. On 19 May 1944 Flight Sergeant Roberts was crew member on Kittyhawk A29-317 which was involved in a collison and crash landing, and in November he was promoted to Warrant Officer. WO Roberts was qualified to fly de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth, CAC Wackett and Wirraway aircraft and served with 77 Squadron in 1944. WO Roberts was attached to 2 OTU at Discharge on 18 April 1945.

Hal was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1921, eldest son of Harold Lancelot Roberts (b1892 in Willenabrina via Warracknabela, Victoria) and Ivy Bessie Matilda Wallace (b1899 in Melbourne, Victoria). Harold was a Farmer at Brentwood in Willenabrina in 1920 when he and Ivy married in Melbourne. They lived in Willenabrina where Harold was a Farmer before settling in Melbourne where Harold was a Hairdresser/Barber. Harold served in WWI (Sergeant; Service No:839) and in the RAAF in WWII (Service No:65149).

Hal finished his education at Melbourne Boys' High School and entered the Public Service as a Clerk with the Post Master Generals Dept. In 1943 in Maryborough, QLD he married Joyce Evelyn Pioch (b1922 in Maryborough, QLD). Following his Discharge, Hal returned to Melbourne and work in the Public Service, and in 1950 he and Joyce were Divorced. Hal transferred to Perth, WA where he remarried to Norma Mary Sheedy (b1919 in Coolgardie, WA) - Norma was living in Perth and working as a Hairdresser. Hal and Norma settled in Yokine where they raised their family and Hal worked as a Public Servant until his death in 1978. Norma died in 2001.

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