Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bill was born in Richmond to Johanna/Anne Josephine Buckley (nee Leddin) a first generation Irish-Australian and William Phillip Buckley who were both born near Warrnambool. Bill's father William was enlisted in the AIF 58th batt gunner present at the Gallipoli and Fromelles conflicts. His father, William suffered significant shell shock as a result of the conflict at Fromelles and following this was deemed unfit for service. Home was not easy for young Bill following his father's medical discharge, as the father became a violent and unpredictable man. At age 11 Bill testified in court of both his parents actions, following a horrific assault his father made on his mother, a result of his father's changed behaviour following shell shock. 
After graduating merit standard in his schooling, at the age of approximately 15, Bill went on to work for PMG (the Post Master General) as a telephonist, postman and telephone monitor and remained there many years until his enlistment with the RAAF in 1942, aged 29, where he was recommended as an "exceptionally good type, very intelligent, efficient and reliable" and he began his enlistment as a service policeman. He was present at Ascot Vale for training and was logged at No. 11 Stores Depot (Qld) when he applied in 1945 for leave on compassionate grounds to support his household following his wife's recent stillbirth. Bill had 3 children other than the afore mentioned and went on to work as a mobile crane driver for the Victorian Railways, until the day of his death from cancer, aged only 54.