BLAKE, Ronald Herbert
| Service Numbers: | VX131950, V230060 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 June 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58/59 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Landsborough, Victoria, Australia, 16 August 1920 |
| Home Town: | Balranald, Balranald, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Balranald Central School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Balranald, New South Wales, Australia, 3 February 2002, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Balranald Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 7 Jun 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1942: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V230060, embarked Brisbane for Port Moresby | |
| 2 Nov 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950, HQ New Guinea Force, embarked Oro Bay for Cairns on board the Manoora | |
| 8 May 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950, 58/59 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, embarked Cairns for Lae | |
| 19 Nov 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950, 58/59 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, embarked Lae for Bougainville on board the Lindley Garrison | |
| 6 Mar 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950, 58/59 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, emplaned Bougainville for Cairns | |
| 11 Jul 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950, 58/59 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, embarked Brisbane for Torokina on board the Duntroon | |
| 5 Apr 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX131950 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Elder of two siblings (Ronald and Lorna) who served in WWII, Private Ronald Herbert Blake (Service Nos:V230060/VX131950) initially served in the ACMF, enlisting with 7th Battalion on 7 June 1941. Private Blake was attached to 10th Defence and Employment Platoon on 12 August 1942 when he embarked from Brisbane for Port Moresby, and transferred to the AIF on 9 January 1943. Private Blake was detached for duty to HQ NGF on 11 August 1943, and embarked from Oro Bay for Cairns on 2 November 1943 on board the Manoora. On 11 January 1944, Private Blake was transferred to 2/1 Guard Regiment - classified Rifleman - then served in Lae, Bougainville and Torokina (1944/1945) with 58/59 Infantry Battalion. Private Blake was attached to 2/1 Guard Regiment at Discharge on 5 April 1946.
Ron was born in Landsborough via Stawell, Victoria in 1921, eldest of four children of Herbert (Dick) Lawrence Blake (b1898 in Landsborough via Stawell, Victoria) and Mary Funcke (b1896 at Rhymney Reef, Victoria). Dick and Mary married in 1919 in Stawell, and in late 1921 moved to Balranald in New South Wales, where they settled and raised their family. Dick worked as a Shearing Contractor, and from the late 1930s was Publican of the Royal Hotel in Balranald (and was a Justice of the Peace).
Ron was working in Balranald as a Labourer in 1941 when he enlisted in the Army. Following his Discharge, Ron returned to Balranald, where in 1948 he married Beatrice Una Barnes (b1923 in Mildura, Victoria) - Beatrice and her family had moved to Balranald in the early 1920s. Ron and Beatrice settled in Balranald, where they raised their family and Ron worked as a Labourer until retirement. Both died in 2002 - Ron in February and Beatrice in October.
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