Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ronald Bruce and Norman Leslie were twin sons born in the mid-north town of Burra on the 6th March ’22 to Irene Maud and Stephen John Fitzgerald. They had an older brother, Stephen Edward John and a younger brother, Clyde. Unfortunately, when young Clyde was just three years old, he was kicked by a horse, contracted spinal tuberculosis and was in hospital until about 15 years old. Inevitably, it was challenging for him to adjust to ‘normal life’.
The twins were just five years old when their 37-year-old father, who worked for the South Australian Railways, died in December ’27. He was buried with his own mother in the Catholic section of the West Terrace Cemetery. Ron’s mother Irene later married again, becoming Mrs L.M. Lines. The boys attended the local Burra School where Ron and Norman vied to be the more academic twin, being mentioned several times in the local newspaper for their achievements.
Post school, Ron was initially a spinner. In those days, traffic rules were strongly policed and penalised as Ron discovered when he failed to signal his intention to do a right turn while riding his bike, was caught and fined 15/- with 10/- cost. The following year as an18 year old working as a machinist for Austral Sheet Metal Works Ltd. at Thebarton, Ron was operating the guillotine machine. He was unfortunate to lose the tips of his first and second fingers of his left hand, eventually being granted £91/17/6 compensation. Unemployed because of the injury, Ron received £16/10 in weekly payments but in a Court case asked that of the balance of £75/7/6, £5/5/ be paid in costs, £8 to his mother Irene for board, and £12 to Ron for clothing. He further asked that he be paid £1/10 a week until he obtained employment with the balance to be invested for him by the Public Trustee until he reached 21.
Four months later, Ron worked as a labourer but was caught unlawfully attempted to obtain liquor from the Flagstaff Hotel in Franklin street about 11:50 p.m. and was fined £5. with 10/- costs of his precious compensation payout.
With the outbreak of WWII, older brother, Stephen was the first to enlist as SX6964 in ’40. He was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion which both twins were later to also join. Steve was exceptionally fortunate to survive a massive blast when a chance shell hit a truck loaded with mines during the battle for El Alamein in Egypt in October ‘42.
The three older brothers had all served with the Militia, Ron as S21429 serving in Alice Springs when he was called up. By October ’42 he was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal but by January the following year he requested a return to the rank of Private. In November ’42, 19-year-old Ron announced his engagement. ‘WALKER—FITZGERALD.— The engagement is announced of Nancy, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J Walker, to Cpl. Ronald, A.I.F., twin son of Mrs. I. M. Lines and the late Mr. Fitzgerald, of Adelaide.’
Ronald, enlisted on his 21st birthday in March ’43 at Alice Springs. He was to also serve in Steve’s 2/48th Battalion as SX28904. (Norm also enlisted as SX29355.) Ron’s previous work-place injury was no barrier to him serving. His and Norm’s Army service closely paralleled each other.
By March ’42 Ron was facing a Court Martial for being in the cook house and causing a disturbance, throwing food at another soldier. He received a fine and 14 days detention. By July he was again facing both a fine and 23 days detention for violence against a superior officer and also being at a local hotel. However, by October that year was promoted to Acting Corporal. The promotion lasted until January ’43 when Ron asked to revert to being a Private. September was again marked by offences against superior officers with threats and language, resulting in the loss of 28 day pay and detention of 28 days. The following year was marked by a series of absenteeism over January, March and May with the inevitable loss of pay and being confined to barracks. Following a Court Martial he lost a further 33 days pay
By Sept 44 Ron had officially joined the 2/48th Battalion, leaving Cairns in March 45 for Morotai and thence Tarakan where he was appointed Lance Corporal. Pleurisy and hepatitis eventually caused him to be evacuated via air ambulance to the Northern Territory where he was hospitalised in December ‘45.
Older brother Steve was discharged on the 26th February ’46, Norman on the 29th March and Ron on the 17th April the same year.
Aged 67, Ronald died on the 15th October 1989. His service is recognised in the SA Garden of Remembrance at Centennial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.