Air Cadet Ralph Vardon Norbury, 1 Flying Training School Point Cook

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Studio portrait of Cadet Midshipman Ralph Vardon Norbury

Australian War Memorial

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Ralph Norbury and his twin, John, were born on 22 December 1914 in Atherton, Queensland, the sons of Frederick and Grace Norbury.

He grew up as part of a large family of four brothers and three sisters, and was educated at All Saints Church of England Grammar School, Charters Towers, and at Brisbane Grammar School. While John went on to work as a clerk for the Brisbane City Electric Light Company, Ralph joined the Royal Australian Navy, becoming a cadet midshipman at the Australian Naval College for four years.

He then worked for a few years with the Queensland Water Police, and also learned to fly and obtained a civil aviation licence. Given this experience, he decided to enlist in the Royal Australian Air Force in November 1939.

Before he enlisted, however, on 31 October, he married his sweetheart, Thora Trapnell, at St Paul’s Church in East Brisbane. Their married life would be brief.

He had begun training as a pilot at No. 1 Flight Training School at Point Cook, when on 6 December 1939, Air Cadet Norbury’s aircraft was flying in company during an exercise. His aircraft broke formation with a turn to the right, before spinning into the ground. He was killed in the crash.

Norbury’s remains were buried in Williamstown General Cemetery. He was 25 years old.

The Norbury family suffered more than most during the war. Having grieved the loss of his twin brother, John enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force in July 1940 and joined the 2/10th Field Regiment. During the Fall of Singapore he became a prisoner of war of the Japanese. After he was interned in Changi jail, in May 1942 he became a member of A Force and went sent to work on an air field in Burma. He died on 9 June 1942, before A Force moved to work on the Thailand–Burma railway.

Another brother, Frederick, joined the AIF and served in England, the Middle East and Australia – before he died of a heart attack on 1 March 1945.

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