BLACKMORE, Lewis Kinleside
| Service Numbers: | 33660, Q230544 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 September 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 23rd (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 15 February 1917 |
| Home Town: | Clandulla, Mid-Western Regional, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | The Kings School, Parramatta. New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Respiratory failure, Nambour, Queensland, Australia, 7 November 1995, aged 78 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 9 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 33660 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 33660, RAAF Personnel / Embarkation / Holding Units | |
| 25 Feb 1943: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 33660, RAAF Personnel / Embarkation / Holding Units | |
| 25 Feb 1943: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 33660 | |
| 6 Jun 1943: | Involvement Private, Q230544, Page missing from Enlistment Register | |
| 6 Jun 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Q230544, 23rd (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
| 6 Jun 1943: | Enlisted | |
| 21 Oct 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Q230544, 23rd (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
| 21 Oct 1945: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Greg Blackmore
Lewis Kinleside Blackmore, (Service Number 33660), enlisted in the RAAF on the 9th September 1940 at age 23 and trained as an Aircraft Fitter II (a) at Ultimo, Canberra, Ascot Vale and Wagga Wagga.
On the 2nd July 1941 he was posted to RAAF Station Darwin and was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 1st October 1941. He was there for the first two Darwin bombings that included the RAAF Station on the 19th February 1942 and another subsequent 10 bombings (6 of which targeted the RAAF Station). The second, high altitude bombing of the RAAF Station on the 19th February lasted 25 minutes.
Lew was posted further south to Daly Waters on the 4th April 1942.
One of many satellite airfields around Darwin, Daly Waters housed RAAF bomber and maritime patrol units from early 1942, when enemy raids on Darwin forced a dispersal of aircraft and personnel. By late 1943, the tide of the war had changed, and operational flying from the base ended in favour of more northern bases.
Lew was at Daly Waters until 22nd July 1942 during which time Darwin was bombed a further 10 times. He was then posted to Uranquinty, near Wagga, NSW, and promoted to Corporal on the 1st September 1942.
He was granted special leave without pay for 3 months from 11th August 1942 to 8th November 1942 to help his father, Jack (JC) Blackmore and mother Edith (nee Kinleside) at Shearing time at "Mt View" Clandulla. Due to the war there was a shortage of casual farm labour available.
Whilst at Uranquiunty Lew went absent without leave for three days from 11th December to 14th December 1942 and travelled by train via Melbourne to Tarwin Meadows, Victoria to visit his ailing grand uncle, Robert McGregor Watson, who with his two brothers, Harry and Sidney, had settled at Gregory Downs, in the Gulf Country of Queensland, in 1875.
Lew was later posted to Bradfield Park and was discharged from the RAAF on the 25th February 1943 under AFR 115 (t) to "take up civilian employment" at Gregory Downs, Burketown, following the death of Robert McGregor Watson.
On the 6th June 1943, after serving as an aircraft fitter in the RAAF at Darwin and Daly Waters, Lew Blackmore enlisted at Burketown with the 23rd Regiment Volunteer Defense Corps of the Australian Army and was discharged on the 21st of October 1945. (Service Number Q230544)
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