LEST WE FORGET

Aircraftman Class I Edward Ernest GESS

Service No: 77037
Born: Kyogle NSW, 17 September 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 July 1942
Unit: No. 1 Fighter Wing, Darwin NT (attached to No. 54 Squadron (RAF))
Died: Ground Accident, Darwin, 20 June 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Russell Garter Gess and Blanche Gess, of Dyraaba Central, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Casino NSW
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Doubtful Creek Public School Memorial Gates, Dyraaba NSW

At 1530 hours on 20 June 1943, Aircraftman Class I Gess, a General Hand, died in a ground accident. He was lying asleep on his bed in his tent at Nightcliffe Camp. Leading Aircraftman Crothers (RAF) was sitting on his bed in the same tent in the process of cleaning his rifle. His rifle was fired and the bullet hit Aircraftman Gess causing his death in a few minutes.

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, 166/15/65
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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