Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Ronald Gilbert Horwood was born on the 18 August 1896 in Broken Hill, NSW. He was the third child of Edward James Horwood and Caroline Wood.

Schooling

Ronald attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide. In 1913 and 1914 he represented St Peters in Intercollegiate Football and Cricket matches. He competed in the College Sports and in intercollegiate sports versus PAC in 1914 and represented St Peter’s in the South Australian Cricket Association B Grade. In December 1914 Ronald passed his Senior Examinations.

School of Mines
Ronald was a student at the School of Mines for the first term of 1915.

University Sport

After leaving school in 1914, Ronald played cricket for the University A team in the second half of the 1914/15 season. He would no doubt have played football for University had not he enlisted.

World War I

Ronald enlisted as a Private in the “D” Coy Base Depot on the 18th March 1915. He was described as 5’9¼”, 157 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. At only 18½ years of age Ronald required his parents’ permission to enlist, the letter from his father (see document).

On 6th April 1915 Ronald was made an Acting Corporal in the 27th Battalion and he embarked on the HMAT Geelong on 31 May 1915. Ronald was present at a gathering of Old St Peter’s Boys at the Heliopolis on the 24th July 1915.

He served on the Gallipoli Peninsula from 30 October 1915 to 10 January 1916. During this period Ronald was promoted to Corporal on 21st October 1915.

After a brief period in Alexandrina, Egypt, Ronald embarked for service in France, arriving there in April 1916. Ronald was rapidly promoted becoming a Temporary Sergeant (30/6/1916), Second Lieutenant (16/8/1916) and a Lieutenant (18/1/1917). While a 2nd Lieutenant, during the attack on Pozieres Ridge, France on 4/5th August 1916, Ronald with six men held on to an isolated position in advance captured trenches for several hours under heavy shellfire. For this action he was awarded the Military Medal. In later 1916/ early 1917 Ronald suffered from a sprained right knee, the result of exercising.

In January 1918, the picture below was published in the Chronicle under the heading “With the Fighting 27th”, Lieutenant R.G. Horwood, MM is second from the right (see document).

Ronald’s knee injury clearly did not cause him long term problems; in February 1918 he won the 120 yards hurdles race at the 27th Battalion Sports and captained 27th Battalion to an easy victory in a football match against the 28th Battalion (Western Australia).

Shortly before the cessation of hostilities Ronald was promoted to Adjutant (6/10/1918) and to Temporary Captain (21/10/1919). Ronald returned to Australia on the “Khyber” in May 1919 and was formally discharged on the 25th August 1919.

Back in Australia

In July 1919, shortly after returning to Adelaide, Ronald captained the 27th in a winning football match against the 10th Battalion. Ronald was named among the best players. Before playing against that game, Ronald also had played two league matches for the North Adelaide Football Club, however a serious injury incurred in that Services game restricted him from then on and he never played league football again. Despite the handicap, Ronald still fronted for the 27th in the return match against the 10th Battalion on the 24th April 1920.

In 1920 Ronald took over management of a property in the Flinders Ranges, near Blinman, SA. On the 22nd December 1920 Ronald married Barbara Clare South and their only son, Ronald Edward was born in 1922.

Ron and his neighbour Mr J Lee gave 68½ acres of land at Blinman to the Tubercular Soldiers' Aid Society in about 1927. The Angorichina Hostel was built on the land to give tubercular soldiers accommodation when they travelled north to avoid the winter cold. He was also actively involved in fundraising for the Hostel. Ron remained a good sportsman and horseman. In 1931 he won the Committee Handicap and was second in the Shot Putt at the athletics sports held on the new sports grounds at South Blinman and he rode in events at the Blinman Race Gymkhana Club Sports.

Another passion of Ron’s was his garden which was irrigated and in full bloom by 1933.

In 1940 Ron disposed of his "Glen View" station property, having accepted the management of a pastoral property near Mount Pleasant. The property was known as “Rosebank” and was owned by Mr Melrose. While at Mt Pleasant Ron was involved with the local Gymkhana and the Adelaide Hunt Club.

World War II

Ron enlisted and was a Lieutenant, in the 10th (Lower & Mid North) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps, Australian Military Forces (SN S76766).

World War II must have been a difficult period for Ron and Barbara. Their only son, Ronald Edward Horwood enlisted as a Private (SX10287) in the 8 Division Ammunition Sub Park AASC on the 5th October 1940. His service record states that he was born on 27 Jun 1920, suggesting Ronald was 20 years of age on enlistment. However, Ronald was born in 1922 thus was only 18 years of age.

In September 1943 Ron and Barbara were advised privately that their son was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands, he had been captured in Singapore. Then in December 1944, after 18 months silence, Ronald’s parents received a card from him with Christmas greetings and stating that he was well. Tragically, however, in October 1945 Ron and Barbara received news that their son had died of illness in Thailand on the 9th of July 1943, aged just 21. Ronald Edward Horwood is buried at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Mueang Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

In 1944 Ron passed Advanced Practical Wool Classing at the School of Mines and helped Mt Pleasant revive its Show after a lapse of 3 years due to the war.

After World War II

Ron continued as Manager of “Rosebank” for many years. Mr Melrose died in the late 1940s and some of the fine cattle herd had to be disposed of, but Ron continued to manage the property for the new owner, a nephew of Mr Melrose. In 1948 Ron elected to the newly formed State committee of the Australian Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society. Ron was still involved with the Adelaide Hunt Club in 1950.

Later Years

At some stage prior to 1967 Ron and Barbara retired and moved to Walkerville, SA. Walkerville is listed as their last abode when Barbara died on 30th December 1967. Ron died on 23 July 1969 while visiting Mount Pleasant.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.