Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William Bluett ST. ALBYN, 184 Coppin Street, Richmond, Victoria.

Bill was born in Springvale, Victoria, and is a Second World War veteran.

Before Bill enlisted, he worked as a postal clerk in Holbrook, NSW. He also drove the town taxi, even though he was unlicensed. Bill says ‘the local copper turned a blind eye and just gave me my driver's licence when I turned 17’. Bill also rode a motorbike and after Japan entered the war, he was sent to the outskirts of Holbrook to burn anything that may have been useful to the Japanese should they invade and come that far inland. He burned haystacks.

In June 1943, Bill joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He was found to be colour blind, dashing his hopes of serving as aircrew. He trained in Melbourne at the School of Technical Training and No. 1 Engineering School, graduating in February 1944 as a flight mechanic, specialising in aircraft engine maintenance. His first posting was to No. 1 Operational Training Unit at East Sale, working on Beaufort bombers.

In May 1945, Bill was posted to No. 76 Squadron on Sanga Sanga, one of the southern islands of The Philippines, from where his squadron provided air support to Australian troops during the Battle of Tarakan. Bill serviced the engines of Kittyhawk fighters. The squadron then moved to Labuan in Borneo where it was involved in some of the final operations of the war. After the war finished, Bill was transferred to No. 13 Squadron, also at Labuan, working on Ventura patrol bombers. There he assisted in repatriating ex-Prisoners of War who had been held by the Japanese.

In February 1946, Bill was discharged from the RAAF. He then trained as a telephone technician for the Postmaster-General’s Department (PMG), which later became Telecom (and then Telstra), and spent the rest of his working life there.

Bill married Ruth in 1951, and they went on to have 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Ruth sadly passed away in 2013.

When Bill was young, he played tennis and also built two family homes. He used to have model railways and belonged to the Melbourne Model Railway Society, which he still attends occasionally. Bill is also a member of his local RSL.

Bill says the secret to his longevity is staying active and keeping busy. He has lived a life of service and kept up with things.