Ronald William Buckingham
From Our Contribution
 Ancestry.com | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11 Apr 1912 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 21 Dec 1988, aged 76 |
| Place of Death | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 29 years, 10 months |
| Description |
5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 168lb "lb" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. ; fair, complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Orchardist |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | River road, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Vera Buckingham |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W54965 |
| Date of Enlistment | 17 Feb 1942 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
 | |
| Headstone Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11 April 1912 |
| Age at Death | 76 years |
| Additional Names | Vera Buckingham |
| Transcription | In Loving Memory of Ronald William Buckingham. Died 21 December 1988. Age 76 years. Loved husband of Vera. Father of Jean, Faye, Maurice and Roslyn. |
Pre War
Young Ron had four sisters: Vera, Ella, Nancy and Kathleen. As a boy he belonged to the Kelmscott Boy Scouts. In his teenage years he met Vera Treeby at the state Subiaco markets. They began courting and went to dances at the Kelmscott Hall on River Road. After five years of courting, Ronald married Vera at St Matthew's Church in Armadale on the 31st of October 1936. At time of Ron's enlistment (1942) the couple had three children: Jean (1937), Faye (1939) and Maurice (1941). Their fourth child, Roslyn, was born in 1950.
Electoral Roll
Entries state that between 1936 and 1958 Ron lived on River Road in Kelmscott. Later, a portion of River Road was renamed to Brookton Highway; future electoral rolls stated that Ron and his wife Vera lived at 71 Brookton Highway in Kelmscott, with Ron making a living as an orchardist. In
War Service
On 17 Feb 1942 Ronald had been mobilised, enlisting at Armadale in the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion. Another set of documents gives his date of enlistment as 22 March 1942. Regardless, on 1 July Ronald was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 11 Mar 1943 he was promoted Corporal. His services were terminated at Fremantle on 6 Mar 1945 at his own request.
Discharge date unknown.
Post War
According to the local newspaper from 1945 until 1954 he was a member of the Kelmscott Agricultural Society. Later for 21 years, he became a bus driver with MTT on the Armadale Route (1950s to 1970s). In his younger days he worked as an orchard hand delivering fruit to the West Perth markets.
Ron and Vera celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on 31 October 1986 with 100 friends and family. Ron was also a member of the Kelmscott Congregational Church where he played the banjo with the organist at Sunday morning services and looking after the church gardens. Ron died at the age of 76 years leaving a widow, Vera, a son, three daughters, twelve grandchildren and five great-children.
Ron's wife Vera died on 5 June 2008 in Kelmscott, aged 93.
Notes