336

40149 : FLIGHT SERGEANT ALBERT WILLIAMS KERRISK.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. D. KERRISK of HAWERA.

Albert Kerrisk was born at Hawera on the 9th November, 1918 and received his education at Hawera Convent School, where he obtained his Proficiency Certificate. His sports included rugby, cricket, hockey and tennis. He joined the Hawera Aero Club as a flying member. His civilian occupation was that of a garage attendant employed by Messrs. L.H. Johnson Motors, Hawera and he was so employed when early in November 1939 he applied for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flight Sergeant Kerrisk was enlisted for aircrew training on the 4th June, 1940 at the Ground Training School, Levin and was posted on the 1st July 1940 to No. 1 Air Observers School, Ohakea, where on the 18th January 1941 he was awarded his air gunner's badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st October 1941. Meanwhile, on the 11th August 1940 he had embarked on the "Akaroa" at Lyttleton in order to proceed to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Kerrisk arrived at Royal Air Force Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, on the 30th September 1940 and was posted on the 14th October, 1940 to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire. He proceeded on the 14th December, 1940 to No. 1 Air Armament School, Manby, Lincolnshire. On the 25th January 1941 he was posted to No. 142 Squadron, first at Binbrook, and later at Grimsby, both in Lincolnshire. With this Squadron as an air gunner in a Wellington bomber aircraft, he took part in twenty-two operational flights, his targets including Vegasack, Cologne (3), Berlin, Essen, Madgeberg, Hamburg, Stettin, Mannheim, Aachen, Wilhelmshaven (2), Bremen and Emden, all in Germany; Cherbourg, Lorient, Boulogne and Brest (3) in France; and Ostend in Belgium.