Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

RUTHERFORD Ian Townley

Ian was the son of Stamford Roy RUTHERFORD & Laura May CALDER and was born on the 9th of February 1921 in Wolverhampton, England.

He was the third child born into the family of 5 children.

His parents were married in September 1918 in Langport, Somerset, England.

His mother was the daughter of William Cattle CALDER & Clara Maria VICK and was baptised on the 15th of July 1883 in Langport, Somerset.

His father was the son of Thomas Bell RUTHERFORD & Elizabeth Lilias Townley LATIMER and was baptised on the 16th of May 1888 in Brampton, Cumberland.

Bernard’s father had previously served in the South Staffordshire Regiment in WW1 and was promoted to Captain and his mother had served with the British Red Cross Society & Order of St John in Egypt for 14 months.

They lived at Shaw Brow, Kaworth, Cumberland.

On the 1st of December 1923 the family departed Liverpool on board the “Medic” for Albany, Western Australia, arriving on the 10th of January 1924.

By 1931 the family at 5 Victoria Street, South Perth and his father was a clerk.

Ian was educated at Perth Boys School from 1936 – 1938 and then Perth Modern School, Subiaco from 1939 – 1940.

On the 3rd of September 1940 his parents gained a divorce and his mother lived at 43 Leura Street, Nedlands. His father moved to 1298 Hay Street, West Perth.

His brother Bernard enlisted into the RAAF on the 6th of January 1941 in Perth and was allotted the service number 406540.

His other brother, Thomas enlisted into the RAAF on the 3rd of February 1941 in Perth and was allotted the service number 406626.

Both these two brother attended the same flying courses and both embarked for the UK together on the on the 17th of November 1941, arriving in the UK on the 17th of February 1942. They were separated to different Operational Training Units on the 9th of March 1942.

On the 19th of May 1942 Ian received the sad news that his brother Bernard was killed while flying solo in an accident at Burton Fleming, East Yorkshire in Airspeed Oxford aircraft L9647.

He was flying in tail numbering formation with Oxford R6358 when a collision occurred. The wing of the other aircraft struck the tail of his aircraft, which caused this aircraft to dive into ground at 10.30hrs near Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming. The other aircraft managed to land safely.

Ian joined the RAAF Reserves and in August 1942 he was living at 4 Fitzgibbon Crescent, Caufiled, VIC when he received the news that his brother Thomas had been killed whilst flying solo during night flying practice.

On the 14th of August 1942 flying Blenheim BA192 with No. 54 OTU at 0130 hours, Thomas struck a tree near the aerodrome causing it to crash to the ground 2 miles south of RAF Charterhall near Duns in Berwickshire.

At the age of 20, Ian enlisted into the RAAF on the 16th of November 1942 and was allocated the service number 72805. He listed his mother as next of kin.

He was transferred to Air Force Defence Headquarters in Sydney.

Ian was discharged on the 8th of February 1946.

Ian married Dorothy June Peace WOODS in 1946 in the Christ Church, Claremont. Dorothy was the daughter of Frederick Charles WOODS & Jane JEFFREY and was born on the 1st of November 1924 in WA.

In 1949 they lived at 43 Leura Street, Nedlands, where Ian’s mother lived.

In 1958 they lived at 50 Keightley Road, Subiaco.

In 1963 they lived at 470 Crawford Road, Dianella and Ian was a business proprietor.

Ian died on the 16th of November 1970 in Dianella, WA and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery; Latter Day Saints, Section AA, Plot 0029.

Dorothy remarried to Frederick Charles FROM when Ian died and moved to Gingin.

Dorothy died on the 11th of April 2019 in Lesmurdie, WA