Harold Herbert BIRD

BIRD, Harold Herbert

Service Numbers: 1766, 11766, WX15135
Enlisted: 7 August 1940
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 5 Personnel Depot RAAF
Born: Roma, Queensland, Australia, 2 October 1913
Home Town: Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Mechanic
Died: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1 September 2011, aged 97 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Mount Gravatt Cemetery & Crematorium, Brisbane
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

7 Aug 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 1766
7 Aug 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 11766
22 Sep 1940: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 23 Squadron (RAAF)
21 Jul 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, WX15135
23 Dec 1942: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, No. 23 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Oct 1943: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 82 Squadron (RAAF)
4 Jan 1946: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 1766, 5 Personnel Depot RAAF
7 Jan 1946: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 11766
8 Mar 1946: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, WX15135
Date unknown: Involvement Flight Sergeant, 1766, No. 82 Squadron (RAAF)

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Harold was the eldest child of Herbert Claud Bird (born 1877 at Rylstone near Mudgee in NSW) and second wife Clara Beatrice Darr (born 1888 at Yuleba in the Maranoa, QLD). Herbert (a general hand) and Clara married in Roma, QLD in 1912.

Harold started his working life as a Mechanic at Yuelba Station via Roma, QLD in 1931, and moved to Brisbane in 1936 where he was co-owner of a Garage. When that failed, Harold moved to Cairns where was working at Reed's Garage as a Mechanic when he met Hazel May Fry (born 1919 in Cairns, QLD) and they married in December 1939.

In August 1940, Harold was at Hamilton in Victoria when he enlisted in the RAAF, serving as a Leading Aircraftman, Corporal and Flight Sergeant (Service No: 1766) until his Discharge in January 1946. Brother-in-Law Christopher James Fry served in WWII as a Private (Service No: 143301).

Harold and Hazel settled in Annerley in Brisbane, QLD where Harold worked as a Truck Driver before returning to mechanics in 1960. They moved to Urangan, near Pialba in QLD in the 1970s where Harold worked as a Mechanic. Harold died in Brisbane in 2011 and Hazel in 2012.

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