Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leading Aircraftman Ronald Stuart Macklin (Service No:46034) enlisted in the RAAF on 17 November 1941 as an ACI. He was described in his interview records as a 'Good type, neat, alert and well mannered' and was promoted to LAC on 17 July 1942 (mustered as an electrical fitter). LAC Macklin's service included 4 RD Pearce, 2 PD Bradfield Park, 2STT Canberra, 77 Squadron Guildford,and 549 (RAF) Squadron in Darwin. On 10 February 1943 he embarked from Townsville to Milne Bay, and also served in the Northern Territory (Batchelor and Livingston in 1942, and 54 Mile, Livingston and Darwin in 1945. LAC Macklin was Discharged on 17 April 1946.

Born in Hampstead, England in 1923 Ronald and his twin Alan were the sons of Dorothy Emma Macklin (b1903 in Surrey, England). In 1929 Dorothy married Frank William John Raynham (b1893 in London) - Frank was a Civil Servant (Clerk) and had served with the Territorial Forces (Private; P9334) between 1909 and 1913.

Ronald and Alan were ten years of age when they were sent to Western Australia under the British Child Emigration Scheme (the scheme was intended to send orphans and impoverished children to the colonies 'for a better life'), arriving in Fremantle WA on 30 May 1933 on board the Orontes. The lads were sent to Fairbridge Farm School in Pinjarra WA, where Alan had died by 1940. Roanld worked as a Farm Hand at Bannister via Boddington WA until his enlistment in the RAAF.

Following his service with the RAAF, Ronald settled in Perth WA and worked as an Electrical Fitter/Electrician. In 1949 Roanld married Jean Isabel Francis (b1919 in Midland Junction WA) - Jean worked as a Photographic Retoucher. Ronald and Jean settled in Perth WA where Ronald worked as an Electrical Fitter/Electrician. They were living in Mandurah WA when Ronald died in 2003 - Jean died in 2013.