LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Thomas HEAD
Service No: 84107
Born: Subiaco WA, 17 December 1925
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 December 1943
Unit: No. 25 Squadron, Cunderdin WA
Died: Self-Inflicted Injury, Cunderdin WA, 30 November 1945, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Karrakatta War Cemetery WA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Violet Head, of Subiaco.
Roll of Honour: Subiaco WA
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Yesterday evening at 1940 hours, No. 84107, L.A.C. HEAD, Thomas, Flight Rigger, died as a result of poisoning. HEAD had been refused additional leave and during the afternoon rode his motor bike into CUNDERDIN where he bought a bottle of weed killer. Sometime immediately before 1600 hours he drank the weed killer, which contained 80% arsenic, became violently ill and collapsed. Despite medical aid he later died. F/Lt. A.H. SMITH investigated the circumstances and found that the poison had been self administered.
No. 25 Squadron Operations Record Book A50 Entry dated 1 December 1945
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (Perth) On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/17/1520
RAAF Operations Record Book (A50) – No. 25 Squadron