Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ronald was the only son of Ferdinand Charles and Marie Louise Reid, born in Adelaide on the 28th March 1911. His father had previously lived and worked in Freemantle, Western Australia, before moving to South Australia to work as a hotel keeper at Oodnadatta then working as an accountant for Dalgety and Company in Jamestown. There, he was highly regarded by the local community, which supported him through challenging times in the 1920’s.
The family moved to the mid-north pastoral town of Hallett, which bordered Goyder’s line. The town was often a stopping point for those travelling on the stock route from north to south. Not unexpectedly, Ron became a Station Overseer in the region until the outbreak of WWII when, aged 29 he enlisted to serve in the Army in June ‘40. He was allocated the number SX8240 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.
Early in November he was promoted to the role of Acting Lance Corporal before boarding the Stratheden for the voyage to the Middle East. Unfortunately, he spent a few days in the ship’s hospital before disembarking on the 17th December. By July the following year, Ron was promoted to Acting Corporal. Not unexpectedly, conditions in the desert affected his eyes, contracting conjunctivitis and being hospitalised for a few days before being able to return to his battalion.
Ron was to become one of the highly respected Rats of Tobruk. This unofficial term was initially designed by Lord Haw-Haw to demoralise the troops who were living in hand hewn dugouts with flies and rats their constant companions, plus dust, heat and the constant sound of war. The taunt had the opposite effect and rather than surrender, the men seized the term as a badge of honour.
By February ’42 Ron was further promoted to Corporal, attending a Carrier Course, but unfortunately developed an extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) closely followed by malaria. Once fit, in September ’42 Ron became a Sergeant, but within two months was again affected by malaria. Finally, Ron and the survivors of the 2/48th were able to leave the Middle East at the start of February ’43, arriving home, via Melbourne.
Following leave, Ron undertook and qualified in several courses in Queensland where he prepared to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. By August ’43 he left Cairns, arriving in Milne Bay, only to be greeted by a return of malaria, extremely high temperature and dengue fever, returning from Port Moresby to Brisbane. Still unwell Ron then contracted Follicular tonsillitis, a clear indication of his poor health.
He eventually did return to Bouganville for the closing days of the war, before finally being discharged on the 7th March ’45. Ron later married Josephine Slaney. With no children to value his medals, Ron’s 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals; Australia Service Medal, all officially bearing his name and number, SX8240 R.S. Reid, plus his Certificate of Discharge were auctioned with an estimate of £30. Fittingly, they sold for £170.
Ron lived in Linden Park until, aged 78, he died on the 1st August ’89. He is remembered at Centennial Park Cemetery, North-East portion, marked by tree number 003 in Plot 001. On her death in May 2003, Josephine’s remains joined Ron’s.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.