Flying Officer William Frederick Harvey Rattle
Royal Australian Air Force - WWII
Service Number: 423256
Royal Australian Air Force,
Born: 27 October 1914 in Waverley, NSW, Australia
Date of death: 13 June 1944, age 29
Status: KIA
Awards:
- 1939-45 Star
- France and Germany Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal 1939-45
- Australia Service Medal 1939-45
Buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Row G. Grave 9.
“Until the dawn breaks and the shadows flee away”
Awards: 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Australia Service Medal 1939-45
Collective grave with F/O Walter Tanner
BIOGRAPHY
William Tanner was the son of William Frederick and Emily Alice Rattle of Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia. The husband of Jean Rattle.
William worked as a Rotogravure Operative with Associated Newspapers Ltd in Sydney before the war.
He enlisted on June 20, 1942 age 27 and married.
His medical was on June 20, 1942 in N°2 Recruiting Centre, Sydney.
Height: 5 ft 6 inch
Weight: 148 lbs
Complexion: Medium
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Entrained Sydney for Brisbane May 4, 1943
Embarked Brisbane May 5, 1943
Embarked USAT “William Holbrook” May 5, 1943
Disembarked San Francisco May 23, 1943
Disembarked UK via USA July 7, 1943
Lancaster I LL812 took off from RAF Mildenhall at 2300 on 12 June 1944 for a mission to an oil plant in Gelsenkirchen near Essen, Germany.
Attacked and shot down by a night-fighter and exploded to the West of Oirschot (Noord Brabant) some 13 km NW from the centre of Eindhoven, all of the crew died and are buried in the Woensel General Cemetery.
Flt/Sgt Richard Paul Percival Holden - Service Number - 429323
Born May 8, 1924 in Sydney, NSW, Australia - Place of enlistment - Brisbane
Plot KK. Coll. grave 72.
Flt/Sgt Richard John William Moore - Service Number - 423433
Born August 2, 1919 in Travandrum South India - Place of enlistment - Brisbane
Sgt Moore RAAF held a Diploma in Agriculture which he gained in Hawkesbury.
Plot KK. Coll. grave 72.
Sgt. Francis Michael Leaney N° 623992,
an Australian in the RAF
Plot KK. Coll. grave 72.
Sergeant Martin Dea N° 1798041,
from Ballacola in County Liex of the Irish Republic
Plot KK. Grave 72.
Sergeant Reginald Bramley N° 2220988,
from Wollaton, Nottinghamshire.
Plot KK. Grave 71.
Flight Officer Walter Richard Tanner N° 424230
joint grave with William Frederick Rattle
Plot KK. Coll. grave 72.
Crew of Lancaster MkI LL812 GI-Z
Sgt Reginald BRAMLEY 2220988 Air Gunner RAF
Sgt Martin DEA 1798041 Air Gunner RAF
Sgt Francis Michael LEANEY 623992 Flight Engineer RAF
Flt/Sgt Richard Paul Percival HOLDEN 429323 RAAF
Flt/Sgt Richard John William MOORE 423433 RAAF
Fl/O William Frederick Henry RATTLE 423256 RAAF
Fl/O Walter Richard TANNER 424230 RAAF
