LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Herbert Lewis GALE
Service No: 17341
Born: Northam WA, 15 January 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 July 1940
Unit: No. 13 Squadron, Hughes NT
Died: Ground Accident, near Hughes, 5 July 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Gale, of Northam, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
On 5 July 1942, Leading Aircraftman Gale, a Mess Steward, was accidentally shot when off duty. He was in a party of three spreading out in line 60 yards apart, proceeding to beat through the bush. A kangaroo was sighted and all members fired. Gale had advanced ahead of the others and was fatally shot while he was obscured from the view of the other members.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/115/117