BURNS, Valmai Pearl
| Service Number: | 96902 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 August 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Aircraftwoman |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Orroroo, South Australia, 8 December 1921 |
| Home Town: | Willowie, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Willowie Primary School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Home Duties |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Edenhope, Victoria, Australia, 4 November 1972, aged 50 years |
| Cemetery: |
Edenhope Public Cemetery |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Aug 1942: | Involvement 96902 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 10 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftwoman, 96902 | |
| 24 May 1944: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Di Barrie
Valmai Pearl Burns (nee Bull) was born at Orroroo 8 December 1921, the eldest child of George John and Pearl (nee Masterman) Bull. George and Pearl farmed section 85, Hundred of Willowie.
Valmai enlisted with the WAAAF at No. 5 Recruitment Centre 10 August 1942. She was 22 years old and mustered as Messwoman, although her preferred role was listed on her application as Sick Room Attendant. Her occupation prior to enlistement was Nurse Attendant at the ‘Home for Incurables’ (now the Julia Farr Centre) at Fullarton, where she had been working for eight months.
She was transferred to the WAAAF Training centre at Mount Breckan, Victor Harbour. On completion of her training 7 September 1942 she was transferred to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School located at Port Pirie where she remained for the next fifteen months. She married Vernon Robertson Burns at Port Pirie 28 August 1943. Vernon was a military policeman in the Australian Army. Early December 1943 she was transferred to No. 3 Air Observers School, also located at Port Pirie, where she remained for the balance of her service.
24 May 1944 she was discharged from the WAAAF ‘on compassionate grounds’ at Springbank. Although her records do not indicate what those compassionate grounds were, her sister Rae related that Valmai was pregnant. At that time pregnant women were not permited to continue work and she had to leave the service. A telegram from 4 Personnel Depot to RAAF Heaquarters states she was of very good character and her trade proficiency satisfactory. Her records do show she had one minor indiscretion during her service at 3 AOS. 2 February 1944 - “ In that she absented herself without leave for 50 minutes”, the punishment being a severe reprimand. Valmai had served a total of 1 year 289 days with the WAAAF.
After the cessation of hostilities Valmai and Vernon settled at Edenhope in South West Victoria. They had four children - three sons and a daughter.
Valmai died 4 November 1972 at Edenhope aged 50 years, as the result of a blood clot following a fractured leg. She is interred in the Edenhope Cemetery, Victoria, Grave site 474.
Excerpt taken from "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie and Andrew Barrie.
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