Frank Alexander Badgery DFC (1912 - 1982)

Born 21 Aug 1912 in Cumnock, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Beatrice (Young) Badgery — married 1940 in Molong, New South Wales, Australia

Died 21 Jun 1982 at age 69 in New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Alec Badgery DFC was born in New South Wales, Australia

Frank Alexander 'Alec' Badgery was born on 21st August 1912 in Cumnock, a farming community north of Molong, New South Wales, Australia. He was the older son of Frank Badgery, a farmer, and Annie Stafford. ^[1] He was educated at Cumnock Public School and Dubbo High School. As soon as he was old enough, he began working with his father.

Alec married Joan Young in 1940 in Molong. ^[2]

Alec Badgery DFC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1941-1945
No.431 Squadron RCAF; No.29 Operational Training Unit RAAF

On 19th July 1941, Alec enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for service during the Second World War. ^[3] He was seconded to Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command, No.431 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), flying Avro Lancaster bombers. The squadron had earlier been equipped with Wellington medium bombers followed by Halifax heavy bombers. Alec's service saw him flying missions against targets in the English Channel, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Fortress Europe, France and Germany. His final posting was to No.29 Operational Training Unit RAAF as a Flying Officer. The war won, he was discharged on 18th October 1945 ^[3] and awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 for his war service. His younger brother, Brab, died in 1943 whilst a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway.

Alec was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for 'skill and fortitude in operations against the enemy' during many missions over the Ruhr district in Germany (gazetted in Canberra 21st September 1944); being presented the award by the Governor General of Australia, Prince Henry the Duke of Gloucester, on 9th August 1946. ^[4][5]

Alec was a farmer

He returned to farming, and to raising a family with Joan. They had five children:

1. Janette
2. Phoebe
3. Robert
4. Keith and
5. Malcolm

Aged 69 years, Alec passed away on 21st June 1982 in New South Wales, and his ashes have been placed in the All Saints churchyard, Sutton Forest, where many of his Badgery forebears lie. ^[6][7] He was survived by Joan, who passed away 27 years later.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #45857/1912; registered at Moss Vale
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #18550/1940
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 412565 Flying Officer Frank Alexander Badgery; accessed 26 Aug 2018
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): DFC
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: DFC
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #201460/1982
7. ↑ Hawkesbury Cemetery Index Southern Highlands