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| When Tom L2 stepped onto the platform at Mirriwinni, the only other person there was ‘this very attractive young girl’. He asked her for directions to the Munro estate, but received a very cold stare and she immediately turned away from him. She was Lillian Newitt who had been taught ‘never to speak to strangers’. Another challenge for young Tom L2 but, this time, his luck changed as several years later, on 17 January 1939, he and Lillian Myrtle Kathleen Newitt (16 June 1917-19 April 2002) married in her home town of [[wp>Babinda|Babinda]].((//Cairns Post// 24 February 1939 p.9.)) She was born in Childers, a sugar town south of Bundaberg, but her family had moved to Babinda to be near her mother's family, the Grummitts. Babinda was the nearest railway station to the north of Mirriwinni; Lillian had been at Mirriwinni because she had been visiting a friend on the day they met on that very tiny railway station. Fate! \\ | When Tom L2 stepped onto the platform at Mirriwinni, the only other person there was ‘this very attractive young girl’. He asked her for directions to the Munro estate, but received a very cold stare and she immediately turned away from him. She was Lillian Newitt who had been taught ‘never to speak to strangers’. Another challenge for young Tom L2 but, this time, his luck changed as several years later, on 17 January 1939, he and Lillian Myrtle Kathleen Newitt (16 June 1917-19 April 2002) married in her home town of [[wp>Babinda|Babinda]].((//Cairns Post// 24 February 1939 p.9.)) She was born in Childers, a sugar town south of Bundaberg, but her family had moved to Babinda to be near her mother's family, the Grummitts. Babinda was the nearest railway station to the north of Mirriwinni; Lillian had been at Mirriwinni because she had been visiting a friend on the day they met on that very tiny railway station. Fate! \\ |
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| Tom L2 was lucky to have meet Lillian on that small, isolated railway station. She was beautiful with a quick sense of humour and a very engaging, warm personality. Her private grief was her difficulty carrying a pregnancy to full term. Five days after the outbreak of World War II, on 6 September 1939, her first son was born prematurely. The couple were living in [[wp>Upper_Barron| Upper Barron]] where Tom L2 was a contractor. Their baby only lived a day, and was named Ian.((Queensland death certificate 3163/1939.)) The next year they were luckier, and had another boy, a Thomas A. to continue the family naming tradition.\\ | Tom L2 was lucky to have meet Lillian on that small, isolated railway station. She was beautiful with a quick sense of humour and a very engaging, warm personality. Her private grief was her difficulty carrying a pregnancy to full term. Five days after the outbreak of World War II, on 6 September 1939, her first son was born prematurely. The couple were living in [[wp>Upper_Barron| Upper Barron]] where Tom L2 was a road contractor.((Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Certificate of Service and Discharge, Tom L2)) Their baby only lived a day, and was named Ian.((Queensland death certificate 3163/1939.)) The next year they were luckier, and had another boy, a Thomas A. to continue the family naming tradition.\\ |
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| On 5 January 1941, Tom L2 joined the Royal Australian Air Force (60 Squadron). Given his love of mathematics, it was fitting that he became a navigator. He, Lillian and baby Tom went to [[wp>/Cootamundra|Cootamundra]] for his training. The family story is that baby Tom A. learnt to crawl along the bar of the Cootamundra pub! When Tom L2 completed his training and was posted overseas, Lillian and little Tom lived with Tom L2's parents ([[thomas_bertram_and_lizzie_m-p|Thomas B. and Lizzie M-P]]) and sister [[vi_stan_and_hugh_m-p_and_their_descendents|Violet]] at their home 'Birrilli' in Leura. They lived there for the duration of the war.((//The Argus//, 26 March 1943, p.3.)) There are numerous photos of Lillian and young Tom at Birrilli during this time as Lizzie M-P was a keen photographer and Lillian sent the photos to Tom L2 with loving messages written on the back. When he eventually returned to Australia, the photos came back too.\\ | On 5 January 1941, Tom L2 joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 60 Squadron. Given his talent for mathematics, it was fitting that he became a navigator. He, Lillian and baby Tom went to [[wp>/Cootamundra|Cootamundra]] for his training. The family story is that baby Tom A. learnt to crawl along the bar of the Cootamundra pub! When Tom L2 completed his training and was posted overseas, Lillian and little Tom lived with Tom L2's parents ([[thomas_bertram_and_lizzie_m-p|Thomas B. and Lizzie M-P]]) and sister [[vi_stan_and_hugh_m-p_and_their_descendents|Violet]] at their home 'Birrilli' in Leura. They lived there for the duration of the war.((//The Argus//, 26 March 1943, p.3.)) There are numerous photos of Lillian and young Tom at Birrilli during this time as Lizzie M-P was a keen photographer and Lillian sent the photos to Tom L2 with loving messages written on the back. When he eventually returned to Australia, the photos came back too. Tom L2 in RAAF [[photos]]\\ |
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| Photo [**scan again**] of Thomas L. and Lillian M-P with their eldest son - called Thomas of course! {{:tom_a_with_parents.jpeg?250|}}((Provenance of all following photos: T.A. & M.T. M-P))\\ | Photo [**scan again**] of Thomas L. and Lillian M-P with their eldest son - called Thomas of course! {{:tom_a_with_parents.jpeg?250|}}((Provenance of all following photos: T.A. & M.T. M-P))\\ |
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| Tom L2 had an adventurous war, serving for a time in the South African air force, in UK, in Europe, in India (Bombay), USA (San Francisco) and finally in Darwin.(((Tom L2's War records, provenance TA & MT M-P)). Like his mother,Tom L2 was also a keen photographer, and took photos whenever he could, especially in exotic locations like Egypt, and when involved in notable events like a visit from French resistance leader, [[wp>Charles_de_Gaulle|Charles de Gaulle]]. He rose to become Flight Lieutenant and in 1943 was awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross).((//The Argus//, 26 March 1943, p.3; http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/20459.php; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 1 April 1943; RAAF service record.)) His citation for his DFC explained that he received it because he had 'taken part in many operational missions, the majority of which have been long distance flights over enemy territory and many under difficult and dangerous conditions.' The citation added that his work was 'consistently of a high order' and that he 'always set a fine example' to others.((Honours and Awards, Distinguished Flying Cross. Pilot Officer Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, provenance T.A. M-P.))\\ | Tom L2 had an adventurous war, serving for a time in the South African air force, in UK, in Europe, in India (Bombay), USA (San Francisco) and finally in Dalby, Queensland then Darwin.(((Tom L2's War records, provenance TA & MT M-P)). Like his mother,Tom L2 was a keen photographer, and took photos whenever he could, especially in exotic locations like Egypt, and when involved in notable events like a visit from French resistance leader, [[wp>Charles_de_Gaulle|Charles de Gaulle]]. He rose to become Flight Lieutenant and in 1943 was awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross).((//The Argus//, 26 March 1943, p.3; http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/20459.php; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 1 April 1943; RAAF service record.)) His citation for his DFC explained that he received it because he had 'taken part in many operational missions, the majority of which have been long distance flights over enemy territory and many under difficult and dangerous conditions.' The citation added that his work was 'consistently of a high order' and that he 'always set a fine example' to others.((Honours and Awards, Distinguished Flying Cross. Pilot Officer Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, provenance T.A. M-P.))\\ |
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| {{:toms_parents_dfc.jpg?300|}} Thomas and Lillian after his award of the DFC.\\ | {{:toms_parents_dfc.jpg?300|}} Thomas and Lillian after his award of the DFC.\\ |