LEST WE FORGET
Aircraftman Class I Ernest George BETTS
Service No: 146312
Born: Ballarat VIC, 16 August 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 January 1944
Unit: No. 3 Personnel Depot
Died: Injuries from a Ground Accident, Rockhampton QLD, 29 September 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Rockhampton War Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Henry and Aimee Betts; husband of Janet Wilson Betts, of Sydney, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Williamstown VIC
Remembered: Panel 114, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the 29 September 1944, Aircraftman Class I Betts, a Welder, died in the Rockhampton General Hospital from injuries in an accident while aboard a train. The accident occurred at Kunwarara on a troop train travelling from Brisbane to Townsville. He was seen to step out on to the observation platform at the rear of car 8 and stand on the lower ledge. Apparently his foot became caught beneath the edge of the platform and he was dragged under the train and badly injured.
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, 166/5/720