The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (412686) Warrant Officer Royston William Purcell, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (412686) Warrant Officer Royston William Purcell, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

412686 Warrant Officer Royston William Purcell, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
KIA 10 May 1944

Today we remember and pay tribute to Warrant Officer Royston William Purcell.

Royston Purcell, known as “Jacky”, was born on 9 March 1922 in Werris Creek, New South Wales, the youngest of eight children born to Patrick and Emma Purcell. He had three brothers – Edward, Francis, and Eustace – and four sisters – Patricia, Rosina, Sheila, and Molly. His father was a civil servant, who died in 1934 when Royston was 12.

Purcell was fond of running, swimming, and boxing, and was educated at St Joseph’s Burwood Heights until he was 14. He worked as a station hand and then in the workshops at the New South Wales Government Railways.

In October 1940, when he was 18, Purcell enrolled in the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve. He applied to be an aircrew member and in July 1941 began full-time training as a navigator.

Purcell embarked from Sydney on 18 September 1942, arriving in the United Kingdom at the end of December. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme he was one of almost 27,000 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and engineers, who joined Australian and British squadrons in Britain throughout the course of the war.

He underwent thorough training in England, after which he initially joined No. 9 Squadron. On 31 December 1943 he was posted to No. 467 Squadron, RAAF. As part of Bomber Command, No. 467 Squadron flew four-engined Avro Lancaster heavy bombers.

On the night of 10 May, 31 Lancaster bombers from Nos 463 and 467 Squadrons, RAAF, departed as part of a major raid from Waddington, England. Their target was the heavily defended railway yards at Lille in France. Warrant Officer Purcell was the navigator with Lancaster “B for Baker”.

While attacking the target the bomber was hit, and exploded mid-air. Squadron Leader Donald Smith was thrown clear and managed to parachute down safely. He eventually made it back to Britain. The rest of the crew died in the crash. Among those killed were Warrant Officer Purcell, along with Australian Flight Sergeants Alastair Johnston and Gilbert Pate, and British airmen Flight Sergeant Jeremiah Parker and Sergeants Kenneth Tabor and Eric Hill.

Twelve Lancasters were lost on the raid, and 50 airmen were recorded as casualties of the mission. Purcell’s commanding officer wrote in praise of the naviagator, saying:

The loss of Warrant Officer Purcell has deprived the squadron of a navigator of great promise whose characteristic skill and courage were an inspiration to us all.

After the war the remains of Commonwealth servicemen buried in Europe were examined and identified where possible. Purcell’s remains were identified and buried at the Lezennes Communal Cemetery south-east of Lille, under the inscription: “Have pity on me, for the hand of the Lord hath touched me.”

Purcell left his possessions to his sister Mary’s daughter, Lynette Jansen. His last letter home wrote of his “hope of being home for next Xmas … in a place where he could count on seeing the sun every day”.

Warrant Officer Royston Purcell’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with some 40,000 others from the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Warrant Officer Royston William Purcell, and all those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Christina Zissis
Editor, Military History Section