Roy James COPELAND (COPLAND)
Year of Birth: 1923
Place of Birth: Peak Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Enlistment: 17 February 1942, Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Australian Defence Force: Australian Imperial Force
Rank: Gunner
Unit(s): 35 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
Service Number: NX88998
Died: 22 September 1944
Age: 21 years
Buried: Cairns War Cemetery – Plot A – Row D – Grave 19
Roy Copeland was the fifth of seven children born to Peter and Elsie Ann Copeland/Copland 13 April 1923. His siblings were Ernest, Elsie, Peter Duncan, Joseph Harry, Constance Mary and Eric. His eldest brother Ernest also enlisted in the army in 1940.
There was confusion about his surname. In the early electoral rolls his parents, Peter and Elsie, say Copland but then it changes to Copeland.
Gunner Roy James Copeland was killed in a road accident with Private Ferraro.
Roy Copeland’s name is on the Peak Hill Roll of Honour and also located at panel 20 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
Online Resources
NAA: B883, (COPELAND Roy James) National Archives of Australia
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Nominal Rolls
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