WEE, Ronald Soon Whatt
| Service Numbers: | SX30402, S41990 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 June 1942, Warradale, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Singapore, 14 December 1923 |
| Home Town: | Singapore, SE Asia, Singapore, Singapore |
| Schooling: | Queen's College, Cambridge, England |
| Occupation: | Army Officer |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Singapore, 14 October 1994, aged 70 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Jun 1942: | Involvement Sergeant, SX30402 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 1942: | Involvement Sergeant, S41990 | |
| 14 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Warradale, South Australia | |
| 14 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, SX30402 | |
| 9 Nov 1945: | Discharged | |
| 9 Nov 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, SX30402 |
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Ronald was demobbed in 14 Nov 1945 and returned to his family in Singapore and to see his father Maj. Wee Kah Kiat who was captured by the Japanese army at the fall of Singapore and held with other aillied soldiers in Changi prison.
Ronald held various jobs but was commissioned in 1957 to be the first Asian officer in the newly formed 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment to fight the Communist insurgents.
He completed Staff and Command Collge, Camberly in 1963 (recognised by Prince Philip for his performance) after serving with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Army on the Rhine).
After the merger of Singapore and Malaysia, Ronald was made Brigade Major in 1964. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to head combined operations against the Indonesian military inflitration (paras and marine commandos) during the Indonesian Confrontation.
With the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, he was posted General Staff at the newly formed Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID) now as a full Colonel.
He became Chief Infantry Officer and Director of the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute which has the School of Basic Infantry Training, School of Section Leaders, School of Support Arms, School of Officer Cadets as well as assorted specialised departments including the start of the Commando Unit.
He later became Director of the Singapore Armed Forces Staff and Command College before retiring.
He passed away on 14 October 1994 and wished that his ashes be scattered in the sea.
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