LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Sydney James BRANCH
Service No: 14436
Born: Port Macquarie NSW, 12 November 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 April 1940
Unit: No. 451 Squadron
Died: Air Raid, Corsica, 12 May 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Biguglia War Cemetery, Corsica
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward Charles and Doris Branch, of Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Port Macquarie NSW
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Port Macquarie War Memorial, Port Macquarie NSW
At 2200 hours on 12 May 1944 Leading Aircraftman Branch, a Fitter I Airframe, was killed during an air raid when low level bombing and strafing took place at Poretta airfield, Corsica. The following 451 Squadron members became casualties:
Leading Aircraftman Reginald Daniel Andrews (10142) (Instrument Maker) Seriously wounded, Discharged from the RAAF: 17 October 1945
Leading Aircraftman Sydney James Branch (14436) (Fitter IA)
Corporal Francis Edward Bulcock (24205) (Fitter IIA)
Leading Aircraftman Ronald Morrison Burslem (30366) (Fabric Worker) Seriously Wounded: Discharged from the RAAF: 16 June 1945
Leading Aircraftman Clarence Arthur Conrad (30550) (Armourer) Fatally wounded, Died: 13 May 1944
Leading Aircraftman Alan Ewans (11204) (Telegraphist)
Leading Aircraftman Donald Cameron Haggart (14675) (Fitter IA) Fatally wounded, Died: 15 May 1944
Leading Aircraftman Jack Charles Lewis (10065) (Fitter IIA) Seriously wounded, Discharged from the RAAF: 8 April 1945
Leading Aircraftman Harold Alexander McKay (11963) (Fabric Worker) Fatally wounded, Died: 13 May 1944
Leading Aircraftman A H Oldridge (1091951) (RAFVR) (Aircraft Hand) Slightly Wounded
Flight Lieutenant Ronald Bernard Sneddon (403228) (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant John Duncan Ward (408177) (Pilot)
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, 166/6/533
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line