SMART, Mervyn Goulbourne
| Service Number: | 401397 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 February 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 40 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Ararat, Victoria, Australia, 28 November 1920 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Ararat High School |
| Occupation: | Porter - Victorian Railways |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Middle East - Tobruk, 26 September 1942, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Alamein Memorial, El Alamein War Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Alamein Memorial (El Alamein), Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 401397 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 401397 | |
| 2 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 401397, No 2 ITS Bradfield Park | |
| 1 Mar 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman | |
| 29 Sep 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant | |
| 23 Oct 1941: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 401397, ex Canada for UK | |
| 21 Mar 1942: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 401397, ex Sydney for Canada | |
| 26 Sep 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 401397, No. 40 Squadron (RAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Mervyn was the eldest of five children of Goulbourn Smart (b1897 in Ararat, Victoria) and Myrtle Grace Blythman (b1896 in Beulah, Victoria). Goulbourn - a Butcher - and Myrtle married in Ararat in 1920. They settled in Ararat, Victoria to raise their family and Goulbourn worked for the Victorian Railways from the early 1920's.
Mervyn commenced working for the Victorian Railways as a Lad Porter and was in Melbourne, Victoria in February 1941 when he enlisted in the RAAF. He was an Aircraftman II (Service No:401397) at No 2 ITS Bradfield Park before being promoted to Leading Aircrftman in March 1941 when he embarked from Sydney for Canada. He was promoted to Temporary Sergeant in September 1941, and on 30 September 1941 in Manitoba, Canada Mervyn married Mary Keeble (b1923 in Manitoba, Canada). On 23 October 1941 Mervyn embarked for the UK.
Mervyn was on operations over Tobruk when 'At 2000 hours on 25 September 1942 Wellington HF846 took off to attack Tobruk defences. No radio messages were received from the HF846, but other aircraft on the same mission reported seeing an aircraft crash and burst into flames in position 1 miles south of Gubbi satellite aerodrome at approximately 0005 hours. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was later recorded that the missing crew members had no known graves'.
Mervyn's father Goulbourne Smart (Trooper/Driver; Service No:6747) and Uncle James Tregellis Smart (Private; Service No:6353) served in WWI. Brother Kenneth Roy Smart (Ordinary Seaman; Service No:PM5721) and numerous cousins and in-laws also served in WWII.
Wife Mary remained in Canada and remarried in 1944. She died in 2019.
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