Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Edward Kneale
Born in Malvern, Dad was named after his two uncle's Edward (killed in Gallipoli in 1915) and William (killed in France in 1917).

Educated at De La Salle, Dad joined the Air Force halfway through the Second War.

His father, the only surviving brother of the 3 boys, was so dismayed at Dad's joining 'another war' threw William and Edward's WW1 medals into the Yarra River near St Kevin's College.

As a new Air Force recruit, Dad spent the first few nights at the MCG before the young men embarked for England. Dad trained at Moreton In Marsh, based in the Cotswolds, to be part of a Wellington Bomber crew. Dad was trained in signals but due to his reputation as "night eyes" he was then assigned as the Turret Gunner located in the dangerous rear bubble of the bomber.

At the same time that Dad was in England, his future wife, Norma Hore from Wagga Wagga, signed up with the Australian Women's Army Services (AWAS).

In early 1945, the Americans requested Allied volunteers to join a bombing raid over Japan. Dad was the only member of his crew to volunteer for this serious mission and took off to New York for training. Fortunately, before completing training, the atom bomb was dropped that forced the Japanese to surrender and drew the end of the war. Dad claimed the atom bomb saved his life.

Dad returned home safely, attended the St Kilda Town Hall where he met Norma Hore. Upon marriage, Dad completed Civil Engineering and honoured his lost uncles by gaining replicas of the France and Gallipoli medals - now safely kept by grandson Adam William Kneale.