LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Walter GARRIOCK
Service No: 403733
Born: Mascot NSW, 25 December 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 March 1941
Unit: No. 47 Squadron (RAF), Shandur, Egypt
Died: Air Operations: (No. 47 Squadron Beaufort aircraft DE115), off the Libyan Coast, 26 October 1942, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Elizabeth Garriock, of Mascot, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Mascot NSW, Sydney NSW
Remembered: Column 264, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 26 October 1942 Beaufort DE115 piloted by Pilot Officer Garriock, was in a formation of 8 Beauforts of 47 Squadron which left Gianaclis to strike against an enemy convoy of 2 motor vessels, a tanker and four destroyers nearing Tobruk. Blenheims and Beaufighters escorted the above formation. The target convoy was seen at 3220N 2342E. The Beauforts carried out a torpedo attack and the Blenheims a low level bombing attack on the convoy. Ten miles on the return journey, DE115 collided with No. 15 Squadron (SAAF) Blenheim BA486 and both aircraft crashed into the sea. No survivors were observed and all crew members were lost at sea.
The crew members of DE115 were:
Sergeant Lance George Davis (407166) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Walter Garriock (403733) (Pilot)
Sergeant Roy James Hamilton (404689) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Robert Wrey Simpson (411228) (RNZAF) (Observer)
The crew members of BA486 were:
Lieutenant S E Leisegang (1666V) (SAAF) (Pilot)
Lieutenant Harold Clifford Francis (1597V) (SAAF) (Observer)
Air Sergeant Patrick Joseph Swann (103898) (SAAF) (Air 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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/44/75
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, 163/44/75