PEAKE, William Shannon
| Service Number: | 416604 |
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| Enlisted: | 21 July 1941, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Aircraft Depot Richmond |
| Born: | Mt Gambier, South Australia, 14 September 1917 |
| Home Town: | Port Lincoln, Port Lincoln, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Fell out of a moving train, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, 17 May 1942, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mitcham Cemetery, S.A. Cremated at Rookwood Crematorium in Sydney Memorial plaque at Mitcham General Cemetery, South Australia Section E, Path 25, Grave 528A |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 21 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 416604, Adelaide, South Australia |
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World War 1 Service
| 17 May 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 416604, No. 2 Aircraft Depot Richmond |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
William Shannon PEAKE was born on 14th September, 1917 at Naracoorte in South Australia
His parents were Edward John PEAKE and Alison Vera Bartlett SHANNON
He was working as a Shipping Clerk in the Adelaide Steamship Company before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force on 21st July, 1941 in Adelaide, SA - he trained at Victor Harbour, Parafield & Mallala and gained his commission as a Pilot Officer - he was then transferred to Sydney
He had previous service for 12 months in the Militia in the 51st Battery, 13th Field Brigade
William died on 17th May, 1942 after falling from the Brisbane Express & was found by a fettler in a tunnel about 3 miles south of Coffs Harbour - his death was due to a fractured skull & a broken neck
His body was sent back to Sydney by train and cremated at Rookwood Crematorium in Sydney - his family conducted a burial service for him at Mitcham General Cemetery in South Australia where he has a memorial plaque
His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & the Roll of Honour in Port Lincoln, South Australia
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His sister Patricia PEAKE also served in the RAAF as an Aircraftwoman (SN107198) Last Unit was Air Defence Headquarters Melbourne - discharged 10th December, 1945
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Trove articles (National Library of Australia)
Border Watch (Mount Gambier) 23rd June, 1942 page 3
Pilot Office, William Shannon Peake whose death in tragic circumstances was recorded recently, was a son of Mr. & Mrs. E.J. Peake of Mount Gambier and a grandson of the late E.R. Peake, an old resident of the Naracoorte District
He was 24 years of age and was born at Naracoorte in 1917. He attended the primary schools at Beachport at Naracoorte and Mount Gambier and completed his education at the Port Lincoln High School & Prince Alfred College.
He was promiment in athletic circles, being a member of the Sturt & Keswick & Wayville Tennis Clubs and a member of the team which won the A grade pennant in 1940
He also won the Eyre Peninsula Junior Tennis Championship and played football in the amateur league and cricket in the Adelaide Turf Association with the Prince Alfred Old Collegians
He met his death accidentally whilst on his journey by rail to a Northern Area Base.
It is believed that his death was due to injuries sustained as a result of a train mishap. Pilot Officer Peake was well known at Port Lincoln & his father held the position of station master for a number of years.
He was highly regarded by all who knew him and was particularly prominent in sporting circles
ALWAYS REMEMBERED
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