GUM, Lorna May
| Service Number: | 114428 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 June 1944 |
| Last Rank: | Aircraftwoman |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 16 March 1922 |
| Home Town: | Willowie, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Munitions Worker |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, 4 April 2008, aged 86 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mornington Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Willowie WW2 Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Jun 1944: | Involvement 114428 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun 1944: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 26 Jun 1944: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftwoman, 114428 | |
| 7 Feb 1946: | Discharged |
Help us honour Lorna May Gum's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Di Barrie
Lorna May Gum was born at Adelaide 16 March 1922, the eldest child of Bertram Gordon and Doris May (Bolitho) Gum. Bertram and Doris leased land in the Hundred of Coomoroo, then moved to Adelaide for a period of time before returning to the Amyton district to manage a farm for his cousins.
Prior to enlisting Lorna had grown up with music and theatre. As a result she sang, organised and performed in Red Cross events for the troops.
Lorna listed her occupation as munition worker when she enlisted with the WAAAF at No. 5 Recruitment Centre on 26 June 1944. She was 22 years old. On her application she requested to be a trainee equipment assistant. Her assessment recorded that she was a “well dressed girl, bright manner, should prove to be an efficient airwoman”
Lorna was posted to Number 4 Initial training School (4 ITS) 26 June 1944. 4 ITS was located at Mount Breckan, Victor Harbor, South Australia and her initial mustering was as aircraftwoman. On completion of her training 5 August 1944 Lorna was entrained to Victoria where she was stationed at 1 Engineering School (No. 1 ES) Ascot Vale. This school occupied the Melbourne showgrounds from March 1940 to October 1946. Lorna completed a course as telephone operator 2 September 1944.
6 June 1945 Lorna became engaged to Aircraftman Leslie Thomas Moran who was also based at No. 1 ES. She remained there until 31 January 1946 when she was transferred back to South Australia. Lorna was demobilised 12 December 1945 and was officially discharged from the WAAAF 7 February 1946. For her service she was awarded the war medal 1939-45 and the General Service Badge.
Lorna married Les at the Pirie St Methodist Church, Adelaide 16 March 1946. After their marriage they moved to Victoria where they had three children, two sons and a daughter. They retired to the Mornington Peninsula. She continued her love of music performing in Opera and various church choirs.
Lorna died 4 April 2008 aged 86 years of age. She is remembered at the Mornington Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Niche 240 ,Mount Martha Victoria.
Excerpt taken from "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie & Andreww Barrie
Click images to start slideshow.