David Julius Irwin Macleod (1923 - 1945)

Born 14 Jan 1923 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 24 Feb 1945 at age 22 in Rosedale, Victoria, Australia

Biography

DAVID JULIUS IRWIN MACLEOD (Macleod-2552)

PARENTS. Julius Farquhar Wallace Macleod & Barbara Darley (Irwin) Macleod

BIRTH. 14 Jan 1923, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

BIRTH. WA BDM Birth Reg: #362/1923

Family name MACLEOD

Given names Julius I D

Event Birth

Father's name --

Mother's maiden name --

Place of birth PERTH

BIRTH NOTICE. MACLEOD.—On January 14, at Miss Harvey's Hospital, Charles street, to Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Macleod, of Minilya Station—a son.

WWII Service Record (Army):

Name MACLEOD, DAVID JULIUS IRWIN

Service Australian Army

Service Number WX30452

Date of Birth 14 Jan 1923

Place of Birth PERTH, WA

Date of Enlistment 18 Jul 1942

Locality on Enlistment CLAREMONT, WA

Place of Enlistment FREMANTLE, WA

Next of Kin MACLEOD, J

Date of Discharge 30 Apr 1943

Rank Gunner

Posting at Discharge 29 ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY

WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display

Prisoner of War No

WWII Service Record (Airforce):

Name MACLEOD, DAVID JULIUS IRWIN

Service Royal Australian Air Force

Service Number 436836

Date of Birth 14 Jan 1923

Place of Birth PERTH, WA

Date of Enlistment 8 May 1943

Locality on Enlistment Unknown

Place of Enlistment PERTH

Next of Kin MACLEOD, JULIUS

Date of Death 24 Feb 1945

Rank Flight Sergeant

Posting on Death GENERAL RECONNAISSANCE SCHOOL

WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display

Prisoner of War No

Roll of Honour Unknown

DEATH. 24 Feb 1945, Rosedale, Victoria, Australia

DEATH REPORT. Air Casualties. Latest R.A.A.F. casualty list issued by the Department of Air, includes the following names of West Australians: . . . Australia and Territories Killed aircraft accident: Flight Sgt. D. J. I. MacLeod, Claremont;

DEATH REPORT. AIRMEN KILLED IN STORM. Training Crews had to Bale Out. Two members of an R.A.A.F. air crew were killed and another was seriously injured when a sudden storm struck a south-eastern Victorian training unit engaged on night flying exercises on Saturday night. They were: — KILLED. Flight Sergeant David Julius Irwin McLeod, of Claremont, W.A.; Sergeant Morton Lawrence, of Malvern, Victoria. SERIOUSLY INJURED, Sergeant Edward John Richardson, of Northcote, Victoria. ; Several crews were forced to bale out, but the majority of the aircraft on the flight landed safely in spite of adverse weather conditions. A spokesman at R.A.A.F. head quarters said last night that when the night training flights began early on Saturday evening, good weather conditions prevailed. There were 13 aircraft in the exercises. At about 10.30 p.m., however, low cloud began to move in towards the base and rain fell. All aircraft were immediately instructed to return or were diverted to nearby landing grounds. Within half an hour visibility was reduced to nil. Flight-Sergeant McLeod was navigator in an aircraft piloted by Sgt. Kevin Maurice Maloney, of Petersham, New South Wales. With fuel running short and conditions bad, Sgt. Maloney decided on a crash landing, but ordered his crew to bale out. Flight-Sergeant McLeod's parachute did not have time to open as he left the aircraft when it was at a low altitude, and he was killed instantly. Sergeant Maloney crash-landed at Rosedale, near Sale, sustaining slight injuries and shock. Sergeant Lawrence made a forced landing 500 yards from the northern boundary of the aerodrome; His crew were all injured—Sergeant Richardson seriously. Sergeant Lawrence died of injuries while on his way to hospital.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

Flight Sergeant MCLEOD, DAVID JULIUS IRWIN

Service Number 436836

Died 24/02/1945

Aged 22

Royal Australian Air Force

Son of Julius Farquar Wallace McLeod and Barbara Darley McLeod, of Claremont, Western Australia.

Buried at BAIRNSDALE WAR CEMETERY

Location: Victoria, Australia

Cemetery/memorial reference: Plot A. Row C. Grave 6.

Sources

• Birth: WA BDM Birth Reg: #362/1923

• Birth Notice: The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Tue 16 Jan 1923, Page 1: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23884922

• WWII Service Record (Army): https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=764613&c=WW2

• WWII Service Record (Airforce): http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=R&veteranId=1028049

• Death Reports: The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Sat 24 Mar 1945, Page 5: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78759867 and The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Tue 27 Feb 1945, Page 1: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206861319

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2246830/mcleod,-david-julius-irwin/