====== Thomas Lodge and Lillian Murray-Prior ======

This Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior (23 March 1912 - 26 October 2000) was the 6th consecutive Thomas Murray-Prior, and the 2nd Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior. He was born in Brisbane to Thomas Bertram and Lizzie M-P.\\
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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))\\
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Thomas L. M-P and Lillian Myrtle Kathleen Newitt (18 June 1917-19 April 2002) married in 17 January 1939((//Cairns Post// 24 February 1939 p.9; Electoral roll for Leichhardt, 1959.)) and lived in Leura.((//The Argus//, 26 March 1943, p.3.)) After the outbreak of World War II, this Thomas Lodge M-P joined the Royal Australian Air Force (60 Squadron) on 5 January 1941. He rose to become Flight Lieutenant and 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.)) He was stationed for a time in California, USA. Like many men, he returned to his wife and family a profoundly changed man. He had various occupations after the war. In the 1980s, he lived at Bogangar, Tweed Heads.\\
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{{:toms_parents_dfc.jpg?300|}} Thomas and Lillian after his award of the DFC.
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Thomas and Lillian had four children. Two died in infancy: Ian who was born and died in 1939, and Ann, born and died in 1950. The second surviving son was Richard John (12 June 1945 - 8 December 2001). This photo of Tom A. and Richard M-P was taken in July 1948.{{:tom_richard_july_1948.jpeg?200|}}  Richard married Ilma Murphy on 7 January 1967. They had a son and daughter, who in turn have four children.\\
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**For more photos, click on [[Thomas & Lillian]]**\\
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