Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stephen was my roommate at RAAF Richmond around 1965-1967 and we became good mates. His family lived at Orange, NSW and were always welcoming when I and other colleagues visited to stay some weekends.

My parents lived in the Northern Territory, so I only saw them about once annually and appreciated greatly Mr and Mrs Gainsford's frequent hospitality where I was made to feel one of their family.

When we visited we'd always go to the Orange RSL Club or another club in which the RSL was situated (I can't recall the proper name).

Stephen was a toolmaker who had completed his apprenticeship with Email at Orange and his first RAAF mustering was as General Fitter. He later remustered to a drafting muster and I think later to radio.

His father Bill was a linesman with the then Postmaster Generals Department and his mother looked after the house and Stephen's young sister.

When I got posted to Canberra, we never caught up again although we did write to each other several times.

I have in my possession a name badge - HENRY - that Stephen produced for me to replace the Dymo Tape badges everyone else wore. It was much flasher created with a special cutting machine.

I was saddened to learn that he had died too early and to find out on this site that his wife Margaret has also passed.