STEWARD KEVIN RICHARD DELAFORCE R52463 RAN
Kevin Delaforce was born in Bowraville NSW in November 1938, the son of Neville and Edith Delaforce. Kevin enlisted in the RAN on the 26th of October 1956 at the age of 17 and was rated as an Assistant Steward. At the time Kevin enlisted Supply ratings wore “Square Rig”, wearing a peaked cap and double breasted suit and not the traditional sailors rig of Bell Bottoms and round cap (Round Rig). Late in his naval career he and other Supply Branch sailors would adopt the Round Rig.
He completed his Stewards training at HMAS Cerberus before posting to HMAS Albatross for duties with 808 Squadron, and his career as a steward from then on would be linked with the Fleet Air Arm. Whilst Kevin was attached to 808 Squadron, he deployed with the squadron to the carrier HMAS Melbourne on numerous occasions. Whilst on Melbourne the ship made multiple deployments to Southeast Asia and to Japan and Hawaii.
Kevin was advanced to the rank of Steward in October 1958. In 1962 he married Elma Marguerite Furneyvall in his hometown of Bowraville NSW. He discharged from the RAN on the 25th of November 1962 – “End of Engagement”. On leaving the RAN he joined the NSW Police Force and in 1980 he was serving at Maclean in Northern NSW.
Kevin Delaforce passed away in Cessnock NSW on New Years’ Eve 2005 at the age of 67. His body was cremated and his ashes are interred in a memorial wall at Lavertys’ Funeral Home Macksville NSW.
