CORK, William James Morris
| Service Number: | 24608 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 September 1940, Melbourne, VIC |
| Last Rank: | Seaman |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Sydney (II) - D48 WW2 |
| Born: | Swan Reach, South Australia, 22 February 1924 |
| Home Town: | Swan Reach, Mid Murray, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Swan Reach Primary School, Swan Reach, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Fisherman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Indian Ocean, 20 November 1941, aged 17 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" At Sea |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Birkenhead HMAS Sydney (II) D48 Memorial, Carnarvon HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Carnarvon Walk of Remembrance, Geraldton HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Plymouth Naval Memorial to the Missing / Lost at Sea, Swan Reach War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Sep 1940: | Involvement Ordinary Seaman, 24608, HMAS Sydney (II) - D48 WW2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Melbourne, VIC | |
| 16 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Seaman, 24608 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Letter written on HMAS Canberra
The "Letter written on HMAS Canberra" was written by Ordinary Seaman William (Bill) James Morris Cork on 21st August 1941 to his uncle Reuben Willie Bertram Groves, his aunt Susan Fanny Groves (nee Cork), and their daughter Kathleen Ann King Groves. Kathleen married to become Kathleen Taylor and she kept the letter from Bill Cork for all her life - it was discovered amongst her possessions after she died on 6th May 2017.
Submitted 27 May 2020 by Jim Taylor
Appendicitis Operation
Newspaper articles show that Ordinary Seaman, William James Morris Cork, had been on HMAS Canberra before being transferred to the Perth hospital for an appendicitis operation. After recovering in Perth he was taken on the crew of HMAS Sydney about six weeks before the Sydney went missing.
Submitted 26 May 2020 by Jim Taylor
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Leonard Morris Cork and Amelia Cork, of Swan Reach, South Australia.
Ord.-Seaman William James Morris Cork was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Cork, of Swan Reach. Two brothers are serving in the R.A.A.F. and a third with an English regiment.
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