454 and 459 RAAF Squadrons
Flying Officer Stuart Charles KIRKWOOD
459 RAAF Squadron
Service No. 424419
Date of Birth: 16 Jan 1924
Place of Birth: Ashfield, NSW
Date of Enlistment: 12 Sep 1942
Date of Discharge: 14 Nov 1945
Rank: Flying Officer
Date of Death: 15 Sep 1981
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Tribute by his son Stuart:
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Stuart Charles Kirkwood 16/1/1924-15/9/1981
Stuart was born in Ashfield, Sydney NSW. Although he did not know it at the time the Kirkwood family are descendants of British convicts. His Great Great Grandfather, Robert Kirkwood was transported to Sydney in 1832 following a trial in Lancaster England.
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He had two older sisters and later twin brothers and one other brother. During his teen years the family moved to Blaxland in the Blue Mountains where he had an idyllic life and in January 1942, he enlisted in the Army in Penrith hoping to move onwards to the RAAF which he achieved in September of the same year. Following training at Port Pirie SA and Parkes he qualified as a Wireless Air Gunner and eventually moved to 459 squadron in the UK and Middle East.
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During his time in England, he met his future wife Vera (my mother) and they married in August 1945. His best man was Charles (Chick) Potier, his best friend who was also serving with 459 squadron.
Stuart returned to Australia with RAAF and Vera followed arriving in early 1946 but sadly she did not take to the Australian way of life and became very homesick. They both had to return to England arriving back in November 1946 and he settled down to life in Coventry having two children, me (Stuart) born in February 1947 and daughter Vicki born in February 1957.
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Stuart spent the rest of his life in England working as sales representative and manager in the electrical supply business. He returned to Sydney for the first time to see his mother in 1969.
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Following the death of my mother in June 1981 it was suggested he visit Australia again to meet his family. Two weeks after his arrival he passed away whilst staying with his niece in Neutral Bay at the age of 57. I travelled to Sydney to arrange his funeral, and his ashes were returned to Coventry.
During his life in England, he never lost his Aussie accent and also loved to be near water and having a barbie. Finally, after 36 years he also manged to meet up with Chick before he died.