Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

One of three brothers (Allan, William and Ronald) who served in WWII, Sergeant William Edward Kilpatrick (Service Nos:V9052/41925) initially served in the ACMF from 28 October 1940 as a Private attached to 3 Field Survey Coy. On 25 July 1941 he enlisted in the RAAF at No 1 Recruiting Centre Melbourne as an Aircraftman I - mustered as Drill Instructor, re mustered as Aerodrome Defence Instructor. Promoted to Sergeant on 6 August 1942, he performed Escort Duty (Canada; March - July 1943) and was posted to NT Force from 27 June 1944 to 27 September 1945 (55 Operational Base Unit (OBU) Gorrie, 1 Airfield Defence Squadron Nightcliffe and 548 Squadron at Livingstone and 54 Mile). Sergeant Kilpatrick was attached to 548 Squadron at Discharge on 14 November 1945 (Occupational Release).

Ted was born in Kerang, Victoria in 1916, third of five children of Stanley John Brockman Kilpatrick (b1883 in Melbourne, Victoria) and Ethel May Kelso (b1891 in Kerang, Victoria). Stanley was a Carter when he and Ethel married in 1910 in Kerang, where they settled and raised their family and Stanley worked as a Carter, Driver and Buttermaker. In 1950 Stanley and his eldest son Francis were killed in a car accident returning from Albury - their wives were critically injured.

Ted completed a five year apprenticeship as a Painter with JW Wood, working in Victorian country regions, and undertook seasonal work as a Storeman at the Kerang Butter Factory. He was a Painter and Decorator with McLaglan & Giles in 1940 in Melbourne when he married Marion Clara Cameron (nee Lynes; b1915 in Melbourne, Victoria) - Marion was a Hairdresser. Ted and Marion settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family. Following his Discharge from the RAAF in 1945, Ted worked as a Maintenance Painter for Peerless Silk Mills and later as a Railways Employee until retirement. Marion died in 1981 and Ted died in 2007.