Born in Ballarat, Victoria and an Engineering Student by occupation, Richard Olver Buchanan was 20 years and single when enlisted on the 10th of May 1918 in the Australian Flying Corps, May 1918 Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of 2nd Air Mechanic, Number 3535. His Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board SS 'Zealandic' on the 5th of October 1918. On the 24th of February 1919 admitted to 3rd Auxilliary Hospital post Influenza debility; joined 4th A.F.C. from Reinforcements; on the 19th of February 1919 transferred to England ex 32nd STAT Hospital Influenza; on the 29th of December 1918 marched into reinforcements Park ex Reinforcements from U.K. (Previous 23rd Reinforcements to A.F.C.). On the 19th of February 1919 admitted Military Hospital Influenza and on the 7th of March 1919 discharged from Hospital; and was listed as returned to Australia per Kaiser-I-hind ex England on the 6th of May 1919. Discharged 3rd Military District with the termination of Period of Enlistment on the 1st of July 1919. Tree No. 3630