LEST WE FORGET
Private Harry Osborne Arthur NUTLEY
Service No: QX4811 (Australian Army)
Born: Wynnum QLD, 11 March 1916
Enlisted in the Army: 20 November 1939
Unit: 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion
Died: Injuries from Air Operations: (loss of No. 1 Operational Training Unit Hudson aircraft A16-3), Hariko PNG, 26 December 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry and Emily Maud Nutley, of Toowoomba, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Toowoomba QLD
Remembered: Panel 34, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1100 hours on 26 December 1942, Hudson A16-3 took off, from Dobodura No. 3 airstrip having landed troops to forward areas and had taken on board wounded soldiers. A16-3 was attacked by Zero aircraft soon after take-off and set on fire, and it crashed into the sea in the vicinity of Hariko. The crew members were all wounded but survived the crash while Flight Sergeant Stephens and Private Nutley succumbed to their injuries. On board of A16-3 were:
Crew
Flight Sergeant Ronald Raymond Bamber (403250) (Wireless Air Gunner) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 7 August 1945
Flight Lieutenant Neville Gerald Hemsworth (260417) (Pilot) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 28 September 1945
Flying Officer Albert Horace Rodd (401835) (Observer) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 11 December 1945
Flight Sergeant Henry Raynor Stephens (404304) (Wireless Air Gunner) Fatally injured: Died: 26 December 1942
Evacuees:
Private Walter Barney (QX22505) (Australian Army) Killed
Private Harry Osborne Arthur Nutley (QX4811) (Australian Army) Fatally injured: Died: 26 December 1942
Private First Class Elbert H Ross (35251322) (US Army) Killed
US Serviceman (details unavailable) Safe
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/163/637
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989