▁C athedral , ▁Per th , ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁November ▁ 1 9 2 6 . ▁They ▁lived ▁in ▁the ▁Per th ▁sub urb ▁of ▁Mount ▁Haw th orn ▁and ▁were ▁to ▁have ▁five ▁children . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁during ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War , ▁he ▁left ▁his ▁position ▁at ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁M ines ▁to ▁serve ▁in ▁the ▁army ' s ▁Western ▁Australian ▁E ch el on ▁and ▁Records ▁Office , ▁in ▁Per th , ▁part ▁of ▁Head quarters ▁Western ▁Command . ▁He ▁was ▁dis charg ed ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁ser ge ant ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁his ▁position ▁as ▁a ▁records ▁cl erk ▁at ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁M ines . ▁ ▁He ▁died ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁while ▁ab o ard ▁a ▁flight ▁returning ▁to ▁Australia ▁following ▁a ▁Victoria ▁Cross ▁and ▁George ▁Cross ▁Association ▁re union . ▁Sur v ived ▁by ▁his ▁five ▁children , ▁he ▁was ▁cre m ated ▁at ▁the ▁Kar rak atta ▁C rem ator ium ▁in ▁Per th . ▁His ▁wife ▁prede ce ased ▁him ▁earlier ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁Medal ▁Ax ford ' s ▁war ▁med als , ▁including ▁his ▁Victoria ▁Cross , ▁were ▁don ated ▁to ▁the ▁Australian ▁War ▁Memorial ▁in ▁Can ber ra , ▁where ▁they ▁are ▁on ▁display . ▁Ax ford ▁Park ▁in ▁Mount ▁Haw th orn , ▁and ▁the ▁Thomas ▁Ax ford ▁w ard ▁at ▁the