Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ronald was born at Harvey Street, Ethelton to Ralph and Bertha Bierwirth on the 7th August 1901. At the time, his father was the headteacher of Glanville State School, a career that Ronald would later also pursue. His father continued to be moved through promotions to different schools, including Leigh Creek, Halbury, Owen, Yankalilla, Tumby Bay and Yacka. At Farrell Flat, Bertha Bierwirth also taught sewing. His next transfer was to Cameron East. Ron attended Adelaide High School, as did his older brother, Rudolph.
Where possible, Ron joined his family at their most current schoolhouse and readily became involved in local activities, including euchre tournaments at Yacka in September ’25.
Ron met Jennie Adele Botten, a gifted singer and drawing artist. She was also a highly talented A Grade hockey player. (Her brother was influenced by Jennie to also take up the sport and represented S.A. several times.) Ron and Jennie married in ’31. Soon after, while chief assistant at the Alberton Public School, then acting Headmaster for two months, Ron was selected by the Education Department as an exchange teacher over 1934 – 35 in England. He and Jennie left in September. On their return Jennie was interviewed on the exchange and the stark differences compared with South Australia. She particularly noted the high cost of fruit, including plums, grapes and strawberries and their presentation with peaches wrapped in cottonwool. Besides fresh fruit, rentals in London were also expensive. In contrast, Jennie noted the support given to children with schools taking on the role of feeding, bathing and given medical attention. Similarly, she was impressed that many married women worked in industry, without prejudice, living in tiny flats in London to be close to employment.
Meanwhile, Ron continued to add to his teaching skills, including learning the now lost art of Blackboard Illustration and Object Drawing at the School of Arts and Crafts.
Jennie and Ron had a son, Donald Peter, born on the 1st January ’37 at Wakefield Street Hospital. By ’39 Ron was Headmaster at Port Elliot, however that time was to be short-lived with the outbreak of WWII, with Ron being granted leave for the duration of the War.
Having already served in the Citizen Forces, 38-year-old Ron enlisted on the 27th July ’40. He was allocated the number SX9661 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. (His older brother, who became 314 Major-General Rudolph Bierwirth C.B.E., enlisted 6 December ’39 and was eventually appointed Australian Defence Representative in London. Younger brother, Harry Owen Bierwirth was the third brother to enlist on the 15th January ’42 as SX39614. David Ralph Bierwirth, a nephew also enlisted on the 8th October ’41 as 42967 in the Aircraft Performance Unit, and niece Judith in the Australian Women’s Army Service.
Ron was soon on the Stratheden leaving on the 17th November and arriving in the Middle East on the 7th December ‘41. He quickly gaining the rank of Lieutenant in November ’41 and Sergeant in January ’42. He attended a Weapons Training School in May ’41 and by August ’42 he was attending Junior Officer School where he performed at a satisfactory level, showing ‘good progress’. He was to become one of the highly regarded Rats of Tobruk for his involvement in the Siege of Tobruk from April to December ’41. This was a derogatory term designed to affect morale of the soldiers who were literally living in hand-dug, underground holes, ‘like rats’. Typically, the Australians adopted the term as a badge of honour.
By November ’45 Ron spent time in the Kapara Convalescent Home with several health issues and was eventually discharged. The following month, accompanied by Jennie and eight-year-old Don, was welcomed back to the Port Elliot school community. The following year he became Head teacher at Kadina Primary School, following in the footsteps of a highly regarded retiring Head teacher. In his response to a community welcome, Ron praised the locals for their welcome and also the support they had so obviously given to the school with the equipment available.
A further move followed in April ’51 with Ron promoted to Gawler Public School, Class 2 Headmaster
Ron lived to be 75 and died on the 16th May ’77. His service is remembered in the Garden of Remembrance at Centennial Park Cemetery. Jennie lived to be 95 and died on the 30th April 2004. She was buried in the Coffin Bay Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.