LEST WE FORGET
Corporal Robert William PHIPPARD
Service No: 415442
Born: Maylands WA, 18 August 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 October 1941
Unit: Headquarters Western Area, Operational Base Detachment Albany WA
Died: Injury, Albany WA, 3 February 1945, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Karrakatta War Cemetery WA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Henry and Ada Marian Phippard, of Shenton Park, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Subiaco WA
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Remembered: Honour Board, Postmaster General’s Department, GPO Forrest Chase, Perth WA
(2 February) Bush fires continue to threaten unit. 1300 hours 415442 Cpl. Phippard R.W. trapped by flames – badly burned. Admitted to Albany Hospital. Western Area informed of incident.
(3 February) 1200 hours. 415442 Cpl. Phippard R.W. died. Flying Officer John Scott Meharry (73116) No. of 35 Radar Station instructed by Western Area to act as burial officer.
(4 February) 1600 hours. 415442 Cpl. Phippard buried at local cemetery. All personnel with the exception of guards and duty W/T (Wireless Telephone Operator) attended the service.
Operational Base Detachment Albany Operations Record Book A50 Entries
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (Perth) On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/32/640