Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Frederick Harold BURTON, Shoreham, Victoria.

Roy was born in Coburg, Victoria, in 1925, and grew up on a farm.

On 3 November 1943, at the age of 18, Roy enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He completed his training as a transport driver at No. 3 School of Technical Training, Ultimo, NSW, in January 1944. Roy was then posted to Melbourne, serving as a motor transport driver with No. 2 Transportation and Movements Office, where he was promoted to leading aircraftman.

In October 1944, Roy was posted as a driver to No. 27 Medical Clearing Station, which was a RAAF field hospital, moving with his new unit to Fenton Airfield in the Northern Territory. In April 1945, Roy deployed overseas to Jacquinot Bay on the island of New Britain. In June, his unit packed up again and sailed to Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) and then to Balikpapan, Borneo, in July. Roy experienced three Japanese air raids that month, but fortunately there was no damage or loss of life. RAAF guards also intercepted a Japanese raiding party that tried to sneak onto the base to destroy the water supply.

Roy was serving at Balikpapan when Japan surrendered in August 1945. In October, he was posted to No. 38 Operational Base Unit at Balikpapan, and then in November he returned to Australia. Roy's trip home was memorable, as he flew in the transparent nose cone of a Liberator bomber.

Roy was discharged from the RAAF on 14 May 1946. Roy says he was very proud to serve his country. After the war, Roy learnt bricklaying from his father and became a builder for the remainder of his working life. He married Patricia in 1952, and they have 4 children, 5 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren, with another on the way. Sadly, Patricia passed away in 1997.

In his spare time, Roy liked fishing and travelling. He drove extensively throughout Australia and was crossing trackless deserts in his mid-eighties. Roy stopped driving at the age of 95.

And the secret to Roy’s long life? He says he is still looking for the secret, but he does everything in moderation and has kept active mentally and physically. Roy is also a non-smoker and has led a healthy lifestyle.