Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ron was born in Victoria on the 8th November, 1918 to John Alfred and Mary Lily Grist, who later moved to the seaport town of Port Noarlunga on the south coast of SA. Ron had two sisters, Yvonne and Barbara and two younger brothers, Jack and Roger. He was employed by motor builders and metal stampers, Richards Industries Limited who also manufactured car parts and trims. He joined the Militia as S14766, spending some time in Alice Springs before enlisting, aged 22, to serve in WWII in Adelaide on the 8th July 1941.
He was allocated the number SX13580 but soon contracted tonsilitis in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before he was eventually able to join other enlistees at Woodside for further training. There he joined the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Pre-embarkation leave gave precious time to spend with his family before he embarked for overseas on the 13th November, arriving on the 25th. He soon joined the Australian Infantry Special Group in March ’42 before re-joining the 2/48th Battalion serving in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. The dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. He was to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Conditions were ever-changing and the fighting relentless. A year after arriving, Ron aged 23, was killed in action on the 31st October, 1942. In his book ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ John Glenn describes that time “which was to be the most bitter and bloody fighting of the war. When next the sun drove away those shadows from the desert, death would have reaped a rich harvest of gallant men. And of the 2/48th Battalion only forty-one weary troops would remain in the field.” He continued: “At zero hour, 1 a.m. 31st October, the artillery opened up with a receding barrage – one that creeps back on itself. The attack was towards the guns themselves, the enemy being between the troops and the guns… Added to this, the troops came under heavy shell fire as they were forming up, and suffered casualties before they commenced their attack… One gun was landing shells right amongst the men. As soon as the main road was reached the two leading companies came under murderous fire, and from then until they reached their objective, 2,250 yards from the start line, the whole advance was fought in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.”
His final summing up was ‘Truly it can be said of these men, “They fought themselves and their enemy to a standstill until flesh and blood could stand no more, then they went on fighting.” In added high praise about those who tended the wounded and collected those killed in action “It says much for them that not one man was missing in their search over the four thousand yards from Trig 29 to the Blockhouse, or in the attack of 3,600 yards to Ring Contour 25.” An horrific battle for the proud and very brave 2/48th Battalion.
Ron was initially buried in the field on the 4th November. Almost a month later back home, his death was officially reported in the Chronicle in December included a list of the other men, predominantly from the 2/48th Battalion, killed in action with him. They included SX7832 Pte. Max C. Boase, 2/48th Millicent; SX6896 Pte. Lance Chapman, 2/48th North Moonta; SX5226 Pte. Charlie L. K. Cock, 2/43rd Solomontown; SX7260 Sgt. Charles Fraser, 2/48th Norwood; SX10466 Pte. E. L Freeman, 2/43rd, Calca; SX8651 Sgt. Lindsay R. Goode, 2/48th Malvern; SX13580 Pte. Ronald A. Grist. Inf., Port Noarlunga; SX8587 Pte. George W. Haywood, 2/48th Mount Compass: SX7249 Cpl. J. Hinson, 2/43rd, Plympton: SX310 Sgt. Alfred W G. Miller, 2/48th Ponde; SX9488 Pte. Eric L. Montgomerie, 2/48th, Edwardstown; SX7375 Sgt Charles E. Plummer, 2/48th College Park; SX7176 A-Cpl. William C. Quinn, 2/48th Bordertown; SX8113 Pte. Michael N. Riley, 2/48th Burnside; SX7298 Cpl. Harold Sandercock, 2/48th Maitland; SX7732 Ste. Clem H. Schulz, 2/48th Yorketown; SX12924 Pte. Richard Speck, 48th Blanchetown; SX8491 Pte. Arthur G. Wilson, 2/48th Glanville. These were some of South Australia’s finest young men, all sadly grieved, so many families’ lives changed forever.
Back home, the Advertiser reported Ronald’s death ‘Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Grist, of Welland Street, Port Noarlunga has been notified that their eldest son. Pte. Ronald Grist, 23, was killed in action in Egypt on October 31. Before enlisting he was employed by Richards Industries Limited.’
Initially Ronald was reburied in January ’44, then in March ’45 moved to his final resting place at the El Alamein War Cemetery, Plot A2 Row C, Grave 11. His family chose the inscription ‘His Duty Nobly Done’. He is surrounded by others from his 2/48th Battalion, Privates Ron H. Jackson SX6963, Corp John T. Hamilton WX 10432, Private Thomas V. McMullin SX13102, L.Sgt Frank W. Hale SX7700, M.N. Riley SX8113 and Andrew W. Warner, WX14061, Michael Riley SX8113, Lindsay Goode SX8651, Andrew Warner WX14061, William Ridley WX9913, Frank Cornelius WX9930, Lance Chapman SX6896; L/Cpl Ronald Templeton WX9832, Cpl Paul Cashen SX7000, Privates Vincent McGahan SX6775, Edward Edwards SX12876, John Cox SX10362 and Thomas Holmes SX9330, all of whom were killed on the 31st October ’42.
Family, friends and fellow soldiers continued to remember Lindsay in the ensuing years.
Advertiser November 1942, GRIST. —In loving memory of Pte. Ronald Grist, killed In action. Egypt. Oct. 31. —Ever remembered by Nora and Roy Badenoch and cousins Margaret, Ray and Bill (R.A.A.F.). GRIST. —A tribute of honor and remembrance of Pte. Ronald Grist, killed In action, Egypt. Oct. 31.—Ever remembered by all at 6 Welboume St. Mitcham. GRIST. —A tribute to our dear brother Ron, killed in action. Egypt Oct. 31. — Always remembered by Yvonne, Barbara, Jack, and Roger. GRIST. —Killed in action Egypt, Oct. 31. Private Ronald Grist, eldest son Mr. and Mrs. Grist. Pt. Noarlunga. loving brother of Yvonne. Barbara; Jack. Roger. We'll meet again.
Advertiser Wednesday 3 November 1943, GRIST. —In loving memory of Pte Ron. killed at El Alamein. Oct. 31. 1942. His duty nobly done. —Remembered by Mr. and Mrs. Hughes and family. Orroroo.
Advertiser Tuesday 31 October 1944, GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear son Ron. killed. El Alamein October 31. 1942. A leaf in the book of memories is sadly turned today. —lnserted by his loving mother and father. GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother Ron, killed El Alamein. October 31. 1942.—Ever remembered by his brothers Jack and Roger. GRIST. —In loving memory of Ronald, killed El Alamein. October 31. 1942.—, Ever remembered by Aunty Norah, Uncle Roy, Bill. R.A.A-F. Ray and Margaret. GRIST. —A tribute of love to the memory of Ronald, killed at El Alamein October 31. 1942.—Inserted by his uncles and aunties, Mitcham. GRIST. —In loving memory of dear brother Ron, killed El Alamein, October 31. 1942. To live in the hearts of those we love Is not to die. —Always remembered by loving sister Barbara, brother-in-law Ken Leonard. GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother Ron, killed El Alamein October 31, 1942. "Gone but not forgotten." Always remembered by his loving sister Yvonne and brother-in-law Jack. AIF. GRIST. —In loving memory of Ronald, killed in action at El Alamein October 31. 1942. His duty nobly done. —Always remembered by Hilda, Jack, Joan. GRIST. —A tribute of honor to Private Ronald, killed in action, Oct. 31. 1942. 'Not Just today, but every day we remember our brave heroes of Australia Inserted by Hughes family. Orroroo.
Advertiser Wednesday 31 October 1945, GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear son Ron, killed in action at El Alamein October 31. 1942. A thought for today, a memory forever. —Mother and father. GRIST—In memory of my brother Ron, killed in action at El Alamein. October 31. 1942.—Always remembered by his brother Jack. GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother Ron who paid the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein. October 31, 1942. Time drifts on, but memories stay. — Always remembered by his sister Yvonne, and brother-in-law Jack (AXF.). GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother Ron, killed in action Egypt, October 31. Deep in our hearts his memory is kept, we who loved you shall never forget. —Always remembered by Barbara, Ken, Leonard. GRIST-—A tribute to the memory of our dear nephew and cousin, Ronald, who was killed at El Alamein October 31. 1942. —Always remembered by Uncle Roy, Aunty Nora, Margaret, Ray and Bill RAAF. (returned). GRIST A tribute to the memory of Ronald, died of wounds at El Alamein. October 31, 1942. —Always remembered by his uncles and aunts at Mitcham. GRIST, —In fond memory of Ron, died of wounds at El Alamein, October 31. 1942. He shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. —Ever remembered by Hughes family, Orroroo.
Advertiser Thursday 31 October 1946, GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle, Ron. killed El Alamein. October 31. 1942. We treasure still, with love sincere, memories of one we loved so dear. —Remembered by his loving sister Yvonne. brother-in-law Jack, and Sandra, Naracoorte. GRIST. —In loving memory of our son, Ron, killed at El Alamein. October 31, 1942. Years pass by but memories stay. —Inserted by mother, father and Roger. GRIST. —In loving memory of my dear brother Ron, killed at El Alamein. October 31. 1942.—Always remembered by his sister. Barbara, Ken and Leonard. GRIST. —In memory of Ron, killed at El Alamein October 31. 1942.—Remembered always by Jack, Owen and Janice.
Advertiser), Friday 31 October 1947, GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother, Ron, killed El Alamein, October 31. 1942.—Inserted by his loving sister Barbara, Ken and Leonard. GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear son, Ron, Killed in action at El Alamein October 31. 1942. He lived with us in memory-—inserted by mother, father and brother Roger. GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle Ron, killed El Alamein. October 31, 1942. Memories forever. —Remembered by Yvonne. Jack and Sandra. Naracoorte.
Advertiser Saturday 30 October 1948, GRIST. —Treasured memories of our dear brother Ron, killed El Alamein. Oct. 31. 1942.—Always remembered by Barbara, Ken and Leonard. GRIST. —Loving memories of our dear son and brother Ron, who made the supreme sacrifice, El Alamein. Oct. 31. 1942. Years move on. But memories will always stay. —inserted by mother, father and Roger. GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle Ron, killed El Alamein. Oct. 31. 1942. Memories for ever. —Remembered by Yvonne. Jack and Sandra. Naracoorte.
Advertiser Monday 31 October 1949, GRIST. —In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle Ron, killed El Alamein. Oct. 31. 1942. Memories for ever. —Remembered by Yvonne. Jack and Sandra. Naracoorte.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.