Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sergeant Herbert Brayley Collett (Service No:29050) enlisted in the RAAF as an Aircraftman I on 15 May 1940 - mustered as a Labourer. Promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 1 June 1941 - mustered as Storekeeper - he served at 4 RD Pearce and 4 SFTS Geraldton, and was promoted to Corporal (mustered as Equipment Assistant) on 1 February 1942. Promoted to Sergeant on 1 December 1942, he served with 4 AD Kalgoorlie and was attached to HQ Western Area Perth at Discharge on 13 November 1945.

Bert was born in 1913 in Perth WA, fifth of nine children of Hugh Collett (b1882 in Guernsey on the Channel Islands) and Esther Mary Veronica Hall Jackson (b1881 in Perth, WA). Hugh immigrated in 1884 with his parents and siblings, arriving in Fremantle WA on board the Glen Goil. Hugh (a Librarian ) and Esther married in 1903 in Perth WA, where they settled and raised their family and Hugh worked as a Librarian, Library Assistant, Clerk and Labourer, and served in both WWI and WWII.

Bert worked as a Wood Cutter for the Lakewood Firewood Coy via Kalgoorlie and as a Fettler at Kurrawng via Kalgoorlie before enlisting in the RAAF. In 1944 in Northam WA, Bert married Olive Mary Tyndall (b1915 in Northam, WA) - Olive was working in Northam as a Postal Officer. Following his Discharge, Bert and Olive settled in Toodyay at 'Rock Haven' where Bert was a Farmer until his death in 1973. Olive died in 2003.