R.A.A.F. Rathmines Memorial

Description

Stone brick monument set on a plinth with a Catalina propeller on the top. The memorial has three stone brick walls to the front and facing the monument, with plaques of deceased personnel who were associated with seaplanes at Rathmines between 1939-1960.

The memorial is located adjacent to Rathmines Bowling Club (formerly the Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) base Officers' Mess).

More information about the Rathmines R.A.A.F. base can be found on the NSW Heritage Office website.

Notes on veterans' names:

  • On the memorial:
    • E Carington-Smith is given as E Carrington-Smith
    • L Farrands is given as L Farands
    • R G Hender is given as R S Hender
    • M B Tyrrell is given as M B Tyrell
    • H McGillivray is given as H McGillvray
    • R W Schulz is given as R W Schultz
    • A Thompson is given as A Thomson
    • N L Woodhouse is given as N D Woodhouse
    • D J Hookings is given as D J Hookins
    • A Hinchcliffe has been found on official records as both Hinchcliffe and Hinchliffe.
  • National Archives records indicate the cause of death for W I Meyers may have been accidental.
  • No records can be found for a T H Cox. This may be Thomas Rawson Cox who died of disease.
  • I D V Ralfe and J H Barnes are not listed as deceased on official records. The status codes for these two veterans have been left as killed in action (KIA) as that is what is indicated by the memorial.
  • All other status codes have been based on information from the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, National Archives information, the World War Two nominal roll and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Inscription

Column

Dedicated to those who served at the R.A.A.F. Rathmines and to all associated with Flying Boats and Seaplanes 1939 – 1960. Unveiled by Air Vice Marshall W. E. Townsend G.B. C.B.E. 16th Sept., 1972.

South wall plaque

In memory of members of No 11 (Flying Boat)

Squadron, RAAF who gave their lives during the 1939-1945 hostilities [Names]

South wall plaque

In memory of members of No 20 (Flying Boat) Squadron, RAAF who gave their lives during the 1939-1945 hostilities [Names]

North wall plaque

In memory of members of RAAF (Flying Boat) Squadrons & Units who gave their lives during the 1939-1945 hostilities [Names]

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given Name Family Name Conflict/s Fate Service No. Service Unit at embarkation Campaign Read more
D G Abbey World War 2 KIA RAAF 43 SQN view
R J Adams World War 2 KIA RAAF 11 SQN view
L G Adamson World War 2 MIA RAAF 20 SQN view
D J Albert World War 2 KIA RAAF 43 SQN view
J W B Amess World War 2 KIA RAAF 11 SQN view
C N Anderson World War 2 KIA RAAF 20 SQN view
F O'C Anderson World War 2 DPOW RAAF 11 SQN view
M R J Anderson World War 2 DOC RAAF 11 SQN view
F H Anthony World War 2 KIA RAAF 11 SQN view
Leading Aircraftman K J Arnott Second World War, 1939–45 21070 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 20 Squadron view

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Address
Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park
Stilling Street
Rathmines NSW 2283
Australia
Local Government Area
  • Lake Macquarie, City of
Setting
  • Garden/park
Memorial type
  • Monument
Recorded by
Mr Robert McLardy and Penny Furner - Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Trust
Year of construction
1972
Established Date format: 
$e_original_date = $entity->field_established['und'][0]['value']; if (!empty($e_original_date)) { $changed_date = strtotime($e_original_date); $new_date = date("d F Y", $changed_date); print '
Established date
'; print $new_date; } else{ print ''; }
Dedication date
16 September 1972
Conflict/s
  • Second World War, 1939–45