Douglas Walter Buckingham
From Our Contribution
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 Ancestry | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 Dec 1902 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 12 Jul 1959, aged 56 |
| Age at Enlistment | 39 years, 6 months |
| Description |
5'9" (1.75) tall ; 183lbs 83.007 kg ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Bus driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Prospect road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Eileen Mary Buckingham |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 81186 |
| Date of Enlistment | 3 Jul 1942 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | No. 4 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Medals |
Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
During 1929 Doug had married Eileen Mary Mathews in Armadale. Following Doug's death in 1959, Eileen remarried in 1965 to Francis Reginald Marron. She died on 30 Mar 1982 in Armadale, aged 75.
Children were Kathleen May Buckingham (10 May 1930 - 2017); Joan Mary Buckingham (7 Aug 1931 - 2014); Douglas John Buckingham (27 Aug 1933 - 1953); Terence Patrick Buckingham (1936 - 17 Aug 1936); Kevin William Buckingham (23 May 1937 - 2014); and Thelma Eilleen (3 Feb 1942 - ?) and one other daughter.
Electoral Roll entries: 1925 at Second avenue, Kelmscott, labourer; 1931 - 1943 at Prospect road, Armadale, bus driver;
War Service
Doug enlisted as an Aircraftman in the RAAF on 3 Jul 1942 at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre to be employed as a ADMY (Driver Motor Transport). With basic drill training completed, on 31 Jul 1942 Doug was posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF where on 5 Jan 1943 he was appointed a Leading Aircraftman. On 24 Jan 1943 he was transferred to the No. 71 Operational Base Unit RAAF, returning to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF on 30 Aug 1943. Doug was promoted Temporary Corporal on 1 Aug 1944.
Doug was posted to No. 4 Personnel Depot RAAF on 18 Aug 1944, and shortly after on 11 Sep 1944 he was transferred to No. 2 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF in the Northern Territory. The next day he was posted to No. 4 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF, and he remained with them until 26 Apr 1946. On 12 Oct 1945 he was promoted to Acting Sergeant.
On 1 Apr 1946 Doug reverted to the rank of Corporal, and on 26 April, with the war well and truly over and war material recovered, repaired etc, he applied unsuccessfully for consideration for the Interim Force that was to replace the then war time military establishment. As a result he was transferred to the No. 4 Transport & Movements Office RAAF, and on 2 Sep 1946 he was posted back to Western Australia to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF to undergo discharge proceedings, which then took place on 9 Sep 1946 when he also received 38 days pay in lieu of credits.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at Prospect road, Armadale, bus driver.
Notes
External Links
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| Headstone Information | |
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| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Transcription | In Loving Memory of our beloved husband and father Douglas Buckingham. Passed away 12 July 1959. |