DRINKWATER, Bruce Kempton
| Service Numbers: | O42036, 416660 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Aircrew Holding Units (UK) |
| Born: | Prospect, South Australia, 1 December 1917 |
| Home Town: | Goodwood, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not known |
| Occupation: | Serviceman |
| Died: | Illness, Tewantin, Queensland, 2 May 2010, aged 92 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tewantin Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: | Prospect Methodist Church WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Aug 1941: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, O42036 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1941: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 416660 | |
| 16 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 16 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, O42036 | |
| 24 Jan 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, Aircrew Holding Units (UK), 9 Aircrew Holding Unit |
Help us honour Bruce Kempton Drinkwater's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Bruce Kempton DRINKWATER was born at Weronga Nursing Home, Halstead St. Prospect, South Australia on 1st December, 1917
His parents were Thomas William John DRINKWATER & Elsie Caroline HODGES
He married Shirley Dawn CHINNER (SN 91574) who was also in the RAAF who was the first married woman in the RAAF at the time - she was discharged on 1st April, 1942
He was promoted to Sergeant on 26th June 1942 & then to Flight Sergeant on 26th December, 1942 & returned from UK to Australia in November, 1945 -& was discharged on 24th January, 1946 -his total period of service was 39 years as follows
Army - 3rd Field RAMC & 6th Cavalry (Australian Light Horse Regiment) - 7 years
Wartime RAAF - 5 years
Post War RAAF - 27 years
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Honours & Awards - 1st January, 1960 (London Gazette)
He was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1960
RAAF Wartime Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Bruce Kempton Drinkwater , served for 25 years in the RAAF reserve as SAATC State Training Officerr and in recognition of this service in 1960 he was made a member of the order of the British Empire (Military Division)
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Medals
Cadet Forces Medal & Bar for long service post war - 25 years service
1939-45 Star
France Germany Star
Defence Medal
General Service Medal
Australian War Service Medal
Australian Defence Medal
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His brother Roydon George DRINKWATER (SN 47127) also served in WW2 in the RAAF and was discharged in 1946
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For more information about his service history see the attached links which include photos
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Bruce died on 2nd May, 2010 aged 92 years - late of Noosa Nursing Centre in Tewantin, Queensland - his memorial plaque is in Tewantin Cemetery
MAY HE REST IN PEACE
Click images to start slideshow.