LEST WE FORGET
Corporal Conrad LARSEN
Service No: 123033
Born: Brisbane QLD, 24 July 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 December 1942
Unit: Headquarters RAAF Station Rathmines NSW
Died: Injuries from a Ground Accident on 18 December 1944, Rathmines, 24 December 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Newcastle (Sandgate) War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Jens Peter and Christina Marie Larsen, of Doomben, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 24 December 1944, Corporal Larson died as a result of burns received when an explosion occurred on 18 December on a fuel barge which was lying alongside the wharf at the refuelling point at Rathmines. Twelve hundred gallons of fuel had just been taken on board, and the explosion occurred in the engine cockpit when Corporal Larsen endeavoured to start the motor. Although badly burnt in the explosion, he courageously seized a fire extinguisher on the barge and contained the fire to the engine room for 3 to 4 minutes until help arrived.
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, 55/1/758