Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Graham Thomas Wood was born at Orroroo 7 March 1915, son of Francis Thomas and Emily Jane (nee Graham) Wood. Frank ran the “Tuckwell” store at Willowie, initially as manager and eventually owner. Emily had previously been a teacher at the Hundred of Willowie school

Graham was working as an Insurance Agent with T & G Assurance when he applied for service in the Air Force early 1940. He was living at Mile End, South Australia. He was enrolled in the Air Force Reserve.

In August of 1940 he completed an application for enlistment as an airman and indicated his desire to be a Fitter and Turner. His records indicate he had 170 hours intense training at A.B Engineering school, as well as experience as a mechanic in the country handling tractors, motor lorries, cars and agricultural implements. Despite his poor result in the trade tests (42%), he was recommended to be inducted as a trainee technician.

Before he was called up Graham was out of work. A request by Norman Makin, MHR on behalf of Graham, to be considered in an earlier intake was sent to the RAAF recruiting depot for the September 1940 intake. This was initially rejected, however some pressure may have been brought to bear, as Graham was asked to report for duty to Number 5 recruitment centre 17 September 1940. His mustering on enlistment was classified as Trainee Technical and his initial remuneration would be Five Shillings a day.

In February of 1941, at No 4 School of Technical Training, located at the Exhibition Building, North Terrace, he completed his trade test, qualifying as Fitter(11E) with a 72% pass rate and the rank of Aircraftman Class 1. From March 1941 through to July 1941 he undertook further training at Number 1 Engineering School at Ascot Vale in Victoria, achieving a “Distinguished Pass”. He returned to South Australia based at the Elementary Flying Training School, Parafield for five months before being entrained to Laverton, Victoria in December and stationed at No. 1 Aircraft Depot (AD). At this time he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman. No. 1 AD's role was to assemble, test and repair aircraft ranging from Tiger Moth trainers to Spitfire fighters to B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers. It also undertook aircraft research and development. In April of 1943 he was promoted once more, to Corporal.

Graham remained at Laverton until June 1945. 13 July 1945 Graham left the Port of Brisbane for Morotai as part of 76 Squadron. He served with them for the next nineteen and a half months, returning to Australia 28 February 1947. 15 May 1947 Graham was discharged from the RAAF. He married Thelma Estella Macintyre on 22 December 1951 at Knox Presbyterian Church, Ivanhoe, Victoria. They had one child, a son, in 1953.

After the war the Electoral rolls record he is a clerk living at March Street, Newborough, in Gippsland Victoria. Probate papers record he was a Company Director at the time of his death. Graham died 25 November 1981, aged 66 years, at Moe, Victoria. His final resting place is unknown.

Excerpt taken from "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie & Andrew Barrie