The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (438726) Flight Sergeant Dennis Geoffrey Featherstone, No. 24 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 Jana Johnson, the story for this day was on (438726) Flight Sergeant Dennis Geoffrey Featherstone, No. 24 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

438726 Flight Sergeant Dennis Geoffrey Featherstone, No. 24 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
KIA 2 July 1945

Today we remember and pay tribute to Flight Sergeant Dennis Geoffrey Featherstone.

Dennis Featherstone was born on 22 October 1925 in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill, the third child of Clarence and Constance Featherstone.

His family had recently immigrated to Australia. His brother Brian had been born in Ireland and his sister Margaret (known as “Peggy”) in London.

Dennis Featherstone attended Our Holy Redeemer Primary School in Surrey Hills, St John’s Marist College in Glen Ferrie and then earnt his sub-intermediate certificate at Christian Brothers College, Parade, in East Melbourne. He enjoyed playing sport, particularly cricket, tennis, badminton, boxing, and golf.

His father had served in the British Navy during the First World War. Perhaps motivated by his father’s example, in 1942, when Dennis was 17 years old, he attempted to enlist with the Royal Australian Navy, but was rejected. According to family legend, this was due to him having lost a toe after jumping off a moving tram and having his foot run over.

He instead became a member of the Air Training Corps, part of the part of the RAAF Reserve, and went to work as junior inspector at the aircraft manufacturer, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. In late 1943, less than a week after having turned 18, he was accepted for active service in the RAAF.

After extensive training and regular promotion, Flight Sergeant Featherstone received his air gunner’s badge in August 1944. Reports indicated he was a good student, creating a distinctly favourable impression, and being quick to learn, dependable and self-assured. It was recognised early that, with age and experience, he would be good officer material.

Featherstone undertook a number of training courses before being posted to No. 24 Squadron in December 1944.

Operating from bases in the Northern Territory No. 24 Squadron flew bombing and anti-shipping strikes against Japanese forces in the Netherlands East Indies before deploying to Morotai Island and then Balikpapan to support Operation Oboe.

Between 1 May and 21 July1945, the Australia I Corps attacked Japanese forces occupying the island of Borneo. On 2 July, Featherstone’s B-24 Liberator failed to return from a mission. The crew were posted as missing, but news was soon received that the aircraft had been seen to crash near Balikpapan after being hit by anti-aircraft fire. Investigation of the crash site revealed all on board had been killed. They had suffered severe injuries on impact, and only three could be identified by tags. Featherstone’s remains were identified by his engraved wrist watch. The crew were buried nearby, and later removed to the Labuan War Cemetery after the war.

Dennis Featherstone was 19 years old.

Today his body rest at Labuan War Cemetery off the coast of north-west Borneo, under the epitaph: “And all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”

Dennis’s brother, Brian, had enlisted shortly after the declaration of war in November 1939, and was discharged at the end of the war in August 1945. Keen for the details of his brother’s death, Brian spoke to a wing commander who had seen the crash. Given details of the location, Brian visited both the crash site and his brother’s grave before the end of the war.

Dennis Featherstone’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among some 40,000 Australians who died while serving in 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 Flight Sergeant Dennis Geoffrey Featherstone, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section