Raymond Ernest Buckingham

Raymond Ernest Buckingham

Personal Information
Date of Birth	6 Dec 1921
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	8 Nov 2000, aged 78
Place of Death	Gooseberry Hill, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 10 months
Description	5'9½" (1.76m) tall ; 160lbs 72.575 kg ; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Brick maker
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Poplar', Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. Walter Samuel Buckingham
Military Information
Reg Number	W21041 & 81622
Date of Enlistment	6 Dec 1941 (Army) & 8 Aug 1942 (RAAF)
Rank	Private & Leading Aircraftsman
Unit/Formation	16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment) & No. 4 Central Recovery Depot RAAF
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Raymond was the youngest of three children, and in the 1943 Electoral Roll he is listed at "Poplar". Kelmscott, bootmaker. He was working for the State Brickworks at Byford at the time of his enlistment as a brick setter.

War Service

On 10 Dec 1941 Ray entered camp 4 days after enlisting in Claremont, and was then called up for full time duty on 24 Dec 1941 with the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment). Ray was discharged from the Army on 16 Jan 1942 for 'Essential Services'.

Ray then enlisted in the RAAF on 8 Aug 1942 at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth as a Trainee Group V. He was sent to No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Busselton to undertake Basic Drill training the same day. On 24 Aug 1942 Raymond was transferred to No. 5 School of Technical Training RAAF in Perth to undertake the No. 101 Trainee Group II Fittere Course and on 21 Oct 1942 he was transferred to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale in Victoria to participate in the No. 285 Trainee Flight Mechanic Course. On 10 Jan 1943 he remustered as a Flight Mechanic group II.

Training complete and now employed as a Fitter, Raymond was posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF in Geraldton on 25 Feb 1943 and was promoted to Leading Aircrafman on 10 Apr 1943. However, on 1 May 1943 he was chaged with being drunk, and as punishment received 14 days Confined to Barracks. Raymond remained with 4SFTS for just over a year, on 15 Mar 1944 Raymond was posted to No. 4 Central Recovery Depot RAAF in Boulder, and then moved with them to Maylands on 12 Apr 1944. On 27 May 1944 Raymond was again sent to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF for further training, this time the No.255 Fitter II (E) Conversion Course, after which he was released to No. 2 Operational Training Unit RAAF in Mildura on 27 Aug 1944. At this time he was remusterd as a Fitter II (EA) requiring him to return to Aircraftman status. However, on 4 Sep 1944 he was again a member of No. 4 Central Recovery Depot RAAF at Maylands where he was again promoted Leading Aircraftman on 24 Nov 1944, and he remained with them until 10 May 1945 when he was transferred to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF to take his discharge on 11 May 1945 in order to return to his civilian occupation working for the State Brickworks at Byford.

Post War

Ray married Alma Cecilia Brooke (1923 - 2017) in 1947 after they were engaged on 4 Dec 1946. They had 3 daughters.

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at 4 Alexandra avenue, Cannington, State Brickworks; 1958 - 1972 Vahland avenue, Riverton, welder, 1972 - 1980 at 4 Alexandra avenue, Bentley, metal worker.