LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Gordon James PURSEY DFC
Service No: 421625
Born: Bungawalbin NSW, 14 April 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 February 1942
Unit: No. 83 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Coningsby
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 15 August 1944
Died: Air Operations: (No. 83 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ND856), France, 27 July 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Mazargues War Cemetery, Bouches-du-Rhone, Marseilles, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis George and Helen Agnes Pursey, of Coraki, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Margaret Pursey, of St. Helens, Lancashire, England
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Coraki War Memorial, Coraki NSW
DFC Citation: Flying Officer Pursey has completed a number of attacks on enemy territory including Berlin. In March 1944, while over the target, his aircraft was attacked by an ME109 which was driven off by the rear gunner. Shortly afterwards the aircraft was again attacked and severely damaged by a Focke Wulf 190. Evasive action was taken and as the fighter attacked for the second time, Flying Officer Pursey and the rear gunner opened fire together and destroyed the enemy aircraft. Throughout all his sorties, Flying Officer Pursey has displayed courage and coolness of the highest praise, (London Gazette 15 August 1944 Page 3774)
At 2100 hours on the night of 26 July 1944 Lancaster ND856 took off from Coningsby detailed to bomb rail communications at Givors, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft crashed and all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of ND856 were:
Squadron Leader Robert Kingdon Eggins DFC (120444) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Wing Commander Gordon Forbes Georgeson DSO DFC (67077) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Lieutenant John Gilmour DFM (45842) (RAF) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant William Hunter Maltman (1852383) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Lieutenant Frederick Alexander Marden DFC (159899) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flying Officer John William Patterson DFC (161641) (RAF) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flying Officer Gordon James Pursey DFC (421625) (Mid Upper Gunner)
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
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line