FELD, Ronald George
| Service Number: | NX194707 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 February 1945, In the Field, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29/46 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, 12 December 1925 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Junior Clerk NSW Railways |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Feb 1945: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX194707, 29/46 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, In the Field, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX194707 |
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Son of George Thomas FELD, 72 Murray Street, Goulburn, New South Wales
Ron is a veteran of the Second World War. Before his war service, Ron worked as a clerk for the NSW Railways in Goulburn. In April 1944, just a few months after his 18th birthday, Ron enlisted in the Australian Army. Initially he was a member of the Citizen Military Force, also known as the Militia, but soon Ron volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force so that he could serve anywhere. While he was undertaking his infantry training at Cowra, hundreds of Japanese Prisoners of War (POWs) staged a breakout from the nearby POW camp. Over the following days, Ron’s training battalion was called in to help round up the escapees.
In November 1944, Ron underwent jungle warfare training at Canungra, Queensland. He was then posted to the 29th/46th Infantry Battalion and, in February 1945, Ron boarded the troopship Katoomba which took his battalion to Jacquinot Bay on the island of New Britain. Ron’s battalion took part in the New Britain campaign, keeping Japanese forces on the island confined to a small area of the Gazelle Peninsula around Rabaul. After the war’s end, Ron remained on garrison duties. He contracted malignant malaria and spent time in hospital before returning to Australia in June 1946. After recovering, Ron worked in administration at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, and outside of his military duties, he was a SP bookmaker.
Ron was discharged from the Army in December 1946. He valued the friendships he made while serving and his buddy in Rabaul became his brother-in-law.
After the war, Ron returned to the railways for 3 years. He then worked at the Rural Bank for 8 years and then the American bank, Citicorp, for 32 years, before retiring in July 1990 at the age of 64. Ron married Marguerite ‘Daisy’ in 1948 and they raised 2 children together. They now have 4 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
When Ron was younger, he played hockey, snooker and poker (without the knowledge of his parents!). Now, Ron listens to the radio, watches TV and attends the Ramsgate-Rockdale RSL Sub-Branch meetings.
Ron’s secret to his long life is, ‘good genes and having a wonderful wife’. He also appreciates ‘having DVA look after me’.
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