Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leading Aircraftman Vernon Archibald Crocker (Service No:126812) enlisted in the RAAF at No 1 Recruiting Centre Melbourne on 2 February 1943 as an Aircraftman I - mustered as Trainee Radar Operator. Promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 25 October 1943, he was a Radar Operator attached to 32 and 48 Radio Dectection Finding (RDF) Stations. LAC Crocker served in Morotai (2 May 1945 - 9 September 1945) and was attached to 325 Radar Station at Discharge on 12 September 1945.

Vern - born in Warracknabeal, Victoria in 1924 - was the eldest of two children of Norman (Norm) Arthur John Crocker (b1892 in Geelong, Victoria) and Amelia (Millie) May McPherson (b1899 in Warracknabeal, Victoria). Norm was a Farm Labourer at Jeparit, Dromana and Brim and served in WWI - he was a Farmer at Wirrbibial via Hopetoun in 1922 when he and Millie married in Brim. They settled in the Hopetoun district where they raised their family and Norm was a Farmer. In the mid 1930s Norm and Millie moved to Warracknabeal, where Norm worked as a Labourer and Caretaker, and served with the ACMF in WWII.

Vern was a Student Teacher when he enlisted in the RAAF and, following his Discharge, pursued a career in education - as a Teacher and School Principal. In 1951 Vern was a Teacher in Melbourne when he married Margaret Norton Glazebrook (b1930 in Melbourne, Victoria). Vern and Margaret settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and Vern was a Teacher and School Principal, and served with School Cadets - in 1955 at Essendon High School, he was Lieutenant of 23rd Cadet Battalion (Trove; 1955). Vern died in 2020 and Margaret in 2021. 

'A life well lived with passion and integrity' (Herald Sun; 2020)