Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Motor Boat Crewmen from Number 76 Operational Base Unit were caught by a Cyclone while camped ashore at Bay of Rest near Learmonth / Exmouth, WA with the only survivor being Sergeant Robert Alfred Hawkins 46328 (discharged from the RAAF in December 1945 - died in 1947)

Killed were Corporal Bindon John Carr 45887 (Geraldton War Cemetery) / Leading Aircraftman George Albert Tonge 81371 (Sydney Memorial) / Corporal Ernest Charley Turnor 45988 (Sydney Memorial)

CAUGHT IN A CYCLONE
THREE AIRMEN LOST - SEARCH BEING CONTINUED
Melbourne. Feb. 6
Three members of the Royal Australian Air Force have been officially reported as missing, believed drowned, as the result of a cyclone.
They are : — Carr, Cpl. Bindon John, Cottesloe;
Turner, Cpl. Ernest Charley, Wagin ;
Tonge, L.A.C. George Albert, Rockingham.
The report adds that although the airmen are believed to have been drowned a search is being continued by land parties and aircraft.

CARR, Corporal Bindon John (RAAF).
On February 2, drowned a result of a cyclone, dearly beloved husband of
Gladys late of Kalgoorlie; aged 35 years.
present address. 19 John-street, Cottesloe
I who loved him will never forget.

CARR.--On February 2. l945, lost on the North-West coast of Australia, Corporal John Bindon Carr (RAAF), only son of Mr Carr, of Rivervale. and the late Mrs Carr, of Round Hill, Moora; aged 35 years.
A good son and a gentleman.

CARR, Bindon John, Corporal (RAAF), who lost his life on February 2; loving son-in-law of Mr and Mrs A. Chatfield (Tammln), brother-in-law of Dave, Bill, Ann, Mary, Jack, Jess, Dorothy and Robert.
If love could have saved he would not have died.

AKA Henry John/James Bindon Carr

Corporal Carr was a Fitter-motorboat in the Marine section of No.76 Operational Base Unit (OBU) encamped at the Bay of Rest, approx. 25 miles by road from Base camp at Learmonth, W.A.
The Marine section was battened down in tents, behind dunes 300 yards from the high tide mark when the camp was inundated by tidal waves during the cyclone. All personel were swept away with one survivor being washed 7 miles inland and was eventually being able to raise the alarm.
Cpl. Carr's body was found on the land on 16 Feb. after extensive air and land searches.
He was interred in Learmonth War Cemetery and later reinterred in the Geraldton War Cemetery.
The remaining missing men were not recovered, presumed dead and to have been swept out to sea.