Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

During World War One the Ardrossan Hospital was closed. Rodney's mother went to Wallaroo which was close to where her parents lived at Moonta for his arrival.

He was brought up in Ardrossan and it was here that he received his primary education at the local school. When the time came for him to start his secondary education he was sent as a boarder to St Peter's College in Adelaide. His secondary education was completed there and during this period he represented his school in the first eighteen football, coxed and then two years later rowed in the first eight. He also twice won the school gymnasium championship. 

He returned briefly to Ardrossan and having applied for a Cadetship in the Royal Australian Air Force he was selected to start on No. 21 Cadet Course commencing in January 1937. At the completion of the course he passed out as an Officer and pilot. He stayed in the Air Force until 1952 and received progressive promotions to senior officer rank. During this period he served in the South West Pacific Area in various positions and locations.

In June 1940 he and Jeanette were married in the St Peter's College Chapel. From here on where it was possible and permitted Jeanette would join him in the nearest town to his location. If not possible she would return to Adelaide and live with her mother. The locations to which she went were as far apart as the east and west coasts of Australia. The accommodation available was as varied as hotels, boarding houses, flats, units and houses.

In 1952 Rodney left the Air Force to take up a position at the Weapons Research Establishment at Salisbury in the operational field of Trials Planning and Conduct. A posting to the Woomera Range eventuated in 1954. The house they had bought at Lockleys was sold, and the family (3 children at this stage) moved to a house in the Woomera Village.