LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant George Robert HARLOCK
Service No: 400347
Born: Colac VIC, 19 July 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 August 1940
Unit: No. 37 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 37 Squadron Wellington aircraft DV643), Benghazi area, 24 June 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur William and Winnifred Ellen Harlock, of Pombomeit, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Camperdown VIC
Remembered: Column 265, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At night on 24 June 1942 Wellington DV643 took off from advanced Landing Ground 09 to attack targets in the Benghazi area. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. The body of one crew member was recovered from the sea and buried by the Italians in the Benghazi Cemetery. In 1948 it was recorded that the missing crew members had lost their lives at sea.
The crew members of DV643 were:
Pilot Officer Mervyn Charles De Clifford (405239) (RNZAF) (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Charles Polwart Turnbull Halliwell DFC (88473) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant George Robert Harlock (400347) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Philip Consterdine Jones (J/3761) (RCAF) (Observer) Remains recovered
Sergeant Henry Edward Noble (936712) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Richard Douglas Stevenson (553924) (RAF)
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, 163/120/490