PERTH WAR CEMETERY AND ANNEX

Western Australia

Australia

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: -31.97194, Longitude: 115.8057​

Location Information

Perth War Cemetery and Annex is adjacent to Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth. The cemetery is located on Smyth road and access is available at Karella Street.


Historical Information

Perth War Cemetery was established by the Army in 1942. It was used for the burial of those who died of wounds in Hollywood Military Hospital after their return from operational areas, and of others who died from accident or sickness. A number of graves were also brought in from civil and temporary military cemeteries.

The cemetery was taken over by the Commission in February 1949. The writing desk in the Records Building at the main entrance was the gift of the Government of Western Australia on behalf of the people of the State. It holds the register of those buried or commemorated in the cemetery, and the visitors' book. In this building, too, is the WESTERN AUSTRALIA CREMATION MEMORIAL commemorating seven members of the Australian Forces who were cremated at Karrakatta Crematorium.

PERTH WAR CEMETERY contains 475 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. Among them is "Bluey" Truscott (Sqdn. Ldr. Keith W. Truscott, D.F.C. and Bar, Mentioned in Despatches) the football star and famous Australian air ace, who was a member from its beginning of the first Australian fighter squadron to be formed in the United Kingdom. During the battle of Milne Bay his Squadron - No. 76 - together with No. 75 Squadron played a vital part in halting the Japanese advance on Australia's doorstep. The cemetery also contains 16 burials of the First World War.

Immediately adjoining Perth War Cemetery, and originally part of it, is an enclosure known as the PERTH WAR CEMETERY NETHERLANDS ANNEXE, with a separate entrance on Smythe Road. Here are buried seven Dutch servicemen and 21 Dutch civilians, five of whom are not identified. These civilians were evacuees from Java who were flown to Australia. As the seaplanes came to rest in Broome harbour they were attacked by Japanese fighter aircraft and all were sunk. There were many survivors, but a number whose bodies were not recovered also lost their lives.

* The cemeteries from which casualties were moved include Albany General Cemetery, Ballidu General Cemetery, Boulder General Cemetery, Broome War Cemetery, Bunbury General Cemetery, Harvey War Cemetery, Kalgoorlie General Cemetery, Karrakatta General Cemetery, Margaret River General Cemetery, Merredin War Cemetery, Moora War Cemetery, Narrogin General Cemetery, Northam General Cemetery and York General Cemetery.

Total Burials: 524.

World War One Identified Casualties: Australia 15, New Zealand 1. Total 16.

World War Two Identified Casualties: Australia 450, Netherlands 22, United Kingdom 21, New Zealand 7, Canada 1. Total 501.

400213 Squadron Leader
Keith William Truscott, D. F. C. and Bar. Mentioned in Despatches
Royal Australian Air Force
28th March 1943, aged 26.
Plot H. A. 12.

Son of William Edward and Maude Mabel Truscott. of South Yarra. Victoria.

His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Darling Keith His Duty Nobly Done"
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Squadron Leader Keith ‘Bluey’ William Truscott RAAF, who was awarded a bar to his DFC. His record showed he had destroyed 11 enemy aircraft in combat, probably destroyed three and had damaged a further two. Truscott had served with No. 452 Squadron based in England and No. 76 Squadron in Australia and the Pacific area. He was killed in a flying accident on 28 March 1943.

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