LEST WE FORGET
Aircraftman Class I Lawrence Noel BERRY
Service No: 50804
Born: Balranald NSW, 26 December 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 February 1942
Unit: No. 346 Radar Station, Madang PNG
Died: Drowned, near Madang PNG, 13 July 1945, Aged 32 Years
Buried: Lae War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Montague and Blanche Georgina Spencer Berry; husband of Ellen May Berry, of Balranald, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Balranald NSW
Remembered: Panel 114, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 13 July 1945, a US barge was transporting personnel and a swell was running that night which caused water to run into the barge apparently swamping it. Unfortunately many on board jumped overboard unaware that that type of barge was unsinkable. Aircraftman Class I Berry, a Fitter Driver Motor Transport and Leading Aircraftman Sydney Ernest Lyons (72043), both poor swimmers, drowned between Krankit Island and Madang, Papua New Guinea.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/1219