LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Joseph Ernest McGRATH
Service No: 412321
Born: Tamworth NSW, 15 November 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 June 1941
Unit: No. 1 Torpedo Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Torpedo Training Unit Beaufort aircraft L9825), Firth of Clyde, 19 January 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Dunure Cemetery, Ayrshire, Scotland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Joseph Bede and Ita Anne McGrath, of Grafton, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Grafton NSW
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 19 January 1943 Beaufort L9825 was detailed to carry out an authorised low flying exercise. During the exercise the aircraft flew into the sea in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, 1.5 miles west of Girvan at 1145 hours. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of L9825 were:
Sergeant Joseph Ernest McGrath (412321) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Robert Alfred William Quin (1292963) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Tom Skinner Tamblyn (411203) (Pilot)
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, 166/26/25