Historical information

This badge was issued to Mrs M Deacon (mother) of 67 Cramer St, Preston to commemorate her son Flying Officer Stanley Alfred DEACON (255057) who was lost in a Consolidated Catalina A-24-22 of No. 20 Squadron RAAF, on the night of 08/09March 1943.
The aircraft flown by the Commanding Officer of No. 20 Squadron W.Cdr Francis Bloomfield Chapman (271349) with Flying Officer S.A.Deacon as R.D.F. Operator (ie. radio officer) and 7 other crew members departed Cairns, and later reported being on fire, probably force landing 30 miles south east of Gasmata. A 3-4 day air search failed to find any sign of the aircraft or survivors.
Gasmata is located in New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, Bismarck, New Guinea.

Stanley Alfred Deacon is commemorated at the Australian War Memorial and the Rabaul Memorial.








https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10307635

Physical description

Obverse:
Circular metal (silver-coloured) badge with raised image of woman with floral bouquet.
Raised lettering (see below)
Suspended from badge, a rectangular metal strip (suspended by two rings) with small star held by split pin.
Reverse:
Hinged metal pin clasp
Engraving (see below)

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
FOR AUSTRALIA
Reverse:
ISSUED BY THE
C'WLTH GOVT
A.F. 3713
AMOR
SYDNEY