RUTHERFORD, Bernard Rinian Roy
| Service Number: | 406540 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 January 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Aircrew Training Units |
| Born: | Wolverhampton, England, 2 August 1919 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Wesley College Perth, Perth Modern School, Western Australia 1935-36 |
| Occupation: | Clerk / Sub Editor |
| Died: | Training Accident (mid-air collision), Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming, United Kingdom, 19 May 1942, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Leconfield (St Catherine) Churchyard, Yorkshire, England Row a Grave 3 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, South Perth Wesley College Lych Gate, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board, Wembley Downs Hale School Honour Roll 2, Wembley Downs Hale School Memorial Grove |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 406540, No. 5 Initial Training School Pearce | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 May 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 406540, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme, 15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU), Leconfield |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Bernard Rinian Roy RUTHERFORD (1919-1942)
Bernard Rutherford was born in Wolverhampton, England on 22nd August 1919, he enlisted in Perth, Western Australia.
On 19th May 1942 he was flying an Airspeed Oxford tail numberin formation with Oxford R6358 when a collision occurred. The wing of the other aircraft struck the tail of this one, which caused this aircraft to dive into ground at 10.30hrs near Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming. bernard Rutherford, the pilot of this aircraft, who was flying solo, was killed. The other aircraft managed to land safely.
His younger brother, Thomas Alan Rutherford RAAF (406626) who was born on 3rd August 1922 in Brampton, England, had also enlisted in Perth. He sadly died only weeks later on 14th August 1942 flying Blenheim BA192 with 54 OTU which crashed near Charterhall, he was twenty years old and is buried in Duns Cemetery, Berwickshire. Their father Stamford Rutherford RAAF (296635) also served in the UK during WW2.
Biography contributed by Paul Lemar
RUTHERFORD Bernard Rinian Roy
Bernard was the son of Stamford Roy RUTHERFORD & Laura May CALDER and was born on the 22nd of August 1919 in Wolverhampton, England.
He was the first child born into the family of 5 children.
His parents were married in September 1918 in Langport, Somerset, England.
His mother was the daughter of William Cattle CALDER & Clara Maria VICK and was baptised on the 15th of July 1883 in Langport, Somerset.
His father was the son of Thomas Bell RUTHERFORD & Elizabeth Lilias Townley LATIMER and was baptised on the 16th of May 1888 in Brampton, Cumberland.
Bernard’s father had previously served in the South Staffordshire Regiment in WW1 and was promoted to Captain and his mother had served with the British Red Cross Society & Order of St John in Egypt for 14 months.
They lived at Shaw Brow, Kaworth, Cumberland.
On the 1st of December 1923 the family departed Liverpool on board the “Medic” for Albany, Western Australia, arriving on the 10th of January 1924.
By 1931 the family at 5 Victoria Street, South Perth and his father was a clerk.
Bernard was educated at Wesley College, South Perth from 1931 – 1934 and then Perth Modern School, Subiaco from 1935 – 1936.
He attended the Perth Technical School from 1937 – 1938 and gained his 2nd year certificate in Woolclassing.
Along with his education he enjoyed playing hockey, football, tennis, swimming, running and rifle shooting at the Rifle Club.
After his education he gained employment with Elder Smith & Co, Elder House, Perth, as a clerk and sub editor for the “Elders Weekly”, which included the funeral duties.
By 1940 Bernard had moved out of home and was living at 17 Kanimbla Road, Nedlands.
On the 3rd of September 1940 his parents gained a divorce and his mother lived at 43 Leura Street, Nedlands. His father moved to 1298 Hay Street, West Perth.
Bernard enrolled into the RAAF Reserve on the 7th of November 1940.
At the age of 21, Bernard enlisted into the RAAF on the 6th of January 1941 in Perth and was allotted the service number 406540. He listed his father as his next of kin.
He was appointed to No. 5 Pearce Initial Training School, 11 Course.
Whilst he was posted here his brother; Thomas Alan enlisted into the RAAF on the 3rd of February 1941.
On the 3rd of April he was posted to No. 9 EFTS (Elementary Flying School), Cunderdin and on the 2nd of June was posted to No. 4 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) in Geraldton, to complete Course 2.
Bernard was awarded his Flying Badge on the 24th of July 1941.
On the 29th of September he was posted to No. 5 Embarkation Depot in Perth and on the 10th of November 1941 he was transferred to No. 2 Embarkation Depot in Bradfield Park, NSW awaiting embarkation orders.
Bernard embarked for the UK from Newcastle, NSW on the 17th of November 1941, arriving in the UK on the 17th of February 1942 where he was transferred to No. 3 Personal Receiving Centre in Bournemouth.
Bernard was posted to No. 15 Advanced (Pilot) Flying Training Unit in Oxford where he was trained in Airspeed Oxfords.
Sadly, whilst here, Bernard was killed while flying solo in an accident at Burton Fleming, East Yorkshire on the 19th of May 42 in Airspeed Oxford aircraft L9647.
He was flying in tail numbering formation with Oxford R6358 when a collision occurred. The wing of the other aircraft struck the tail of his aircraft, which caused this aircraft to dive into ground at 10.30hrs near Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming. The other aircraft managed to land safely.
Bernard was buried in the Leconfield (St Catherine) Churchyard, he was 23 years old.
Photo Reference; 1941 in Western Australia
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/27876224/person/5082973337/facts
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