BILSBY, Ralph Trenham
| Service Number: | 415222 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 142 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Collie, Western Australia, 19 April 1922 |
| Home Town: | Collie, Collie, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Collie District High School, Collie, western Australia |
| Occupation: | Mechanic/Coal miner |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Naples, Italy, 22 July 1943, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cassino War Cemetery, Italy Coll. grave XV11, D 1-10, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 17 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 415222, Perth, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415222 | |
| 22 Jul 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415222, No. 142 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
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"...415222 Flight Sergeant Ralph Trenham Bilsby, 142 Squadron RAF, of Collie, WA. A garage mechanic and coal miner before enlisting in August 1941, Flt Sgt Bilsby trained as a pilot as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, and was posted to 142 Squadron RAF in Tunisia flying Wellington bombers. He was with the squadron for less than a month before he was killed during an operational sortie over Italy on 22 July 1943, aged 21." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Ralph Trenham BILSBY was born on 19th April, 1922 in Collie, Western Australia to Ralph Mason BILSBY and Lillian Emelina TRENHAM who were married in 1908 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
He enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force on 17th August 1941 and was part of the Empire Air Training Scheme and was posted to 142 Squadron (RAF) in Tunisia flying Wellington bombers.
Ralph died in an operational sortie over Italy on 22nd July, 1943 aged 21 years and is buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Coll. grave XV11, D 1-10
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES (www.cwgc.org)
FIND A GRAVE LINK (www.findagrave.com)
MEMORIAL PAGE (www.raafdb.com)
NOMINAL ROLL - Australian War Memorial (www.ww2roll.gov.au)
"IN MEMORIAM
BILSBY - Flight Sergeant Ralph Trenham - missing since July 22, 1943 now presumed lost his life in an air operation over Italy. Dearly loved youngest son of Mr. & Mrs. R Bilsby, 54 Raymond St, Collie, loving brother of Harry, Connie & Mary, brother-in-law of Peg, George and Fred (Sgt AIF) and Unlce of Kate, aged 21 years.
We miss your smiling face dear Ralph
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Deep in our hearts a memory is kept,
Of one too dear to ever forget" - from the West Australian 21 Jul 1945 (nla.gov.au)
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