BRADY, Neville William Barton
| Service Number: | 414372 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 September 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 62 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 8 June 1923 |
| Home Town: | Ascot, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Brisbane Boys' College, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk/Wool classer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Burma, 11 June 1944, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kohima War Cemetery, India 1 C 1A 1-26 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 13 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 414372, No. 215 Squadron (RAF), Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 414372 | |
| 14 Sep 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 414372 | |
| 24 Apr 1942: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 414372, Sydney, NSW to Canada (for Air Trainining at Brandon, Manitoba) | |
| 25 Sep 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Airman Pilot | |
| 11 Jun 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 414372, No. 62 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SE Asia 1941-45 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Jenny Hibbens
Neville William Barton Brady was born on 8th June 1923 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His parents were Victor Neville Brady and Margarita Frances Penelope Horan. He had two younger sisters, Wanda Margaret & Ailsa and a younger brother Keith.
Neville's father, 2017 Pte. Victor Neville Brady (/explore/people/98946) served in WWI with the 3rd and 4th Light Horse Brigades as well as the Volunteer Defence Corps in WW2.
He was educated at the Brisbane Boys' College on a scholarship. When he enlisted in the RAAF he was employed by the N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. Lts. in Egale Street, Brisbane as a Clerk / Wool Classer.
Neville completed his inital flying training under the Empire Air Training Scheme at Bradfield Park NSW. He then was shipped to Canada and gained his wings on 25th September 1942 with the Royal Canadian Air Force at Brandon Manitoba.
Neville was then shipped to the UK in early November 1942 and was based at Bournemouth where he completed his conversion to larger aircraft.
On 28th May 1943 he was transferred to India, and on the 5th December that year was he was Commissioned for General Duties with the RAF Intelligence Branch with the 215 Squadron.
Here Neville became known as 'Nibs' Brady. He was apparently well liked and respected. Whilst stationed at Jessore Bengal. Neville was piloting a Wellington Bomber on Easter Sunday 1943 when his plane was severley shot up over Rangoon. He managed to crash land the plane at Chittagong airfield, saving the lives of his crew.
On 11th June 1944 he was piloting a Dakota III FZ with three other crew, transporting 24 service personnel who were being deployed elsewhere. He took off at 0800 hours and had failed to return my dusk. It later transpired that the plane had crashed at around 1100 hours - killing all on board. It took some time for the plane wreckage to be located at Nilla Bazaar in Burma (with the help pf locals) as it was at 3,000 feet altitude, conditions were appalling and the wreckage had sunk several feet into water and mud. All on board were buried in a common grave near the site but were all later re-located to the Kohima War Cemetery at Bagaland India.
Neville was awarded the Distinguished Flying corss - effective from 10th June 1944. This was presented to his father, Mr. Victor Neville Brady by the Governeor General of Queensland at Parliament House Brisbane on the 8th March 1946.
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