Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ronald was born in Bowden on the 6th June 1909, the youngest son of Alice Gertrude and Alexander James Small. He had two older brothers, Alexander Roy and Frank James. Their father, Alexander, had served in the 32nd Battalion in the 1st AIF as 2725, having enlisted as a 30-year-old in December 1915 when Ron was six. He served in Etaples, France where he was wounded with a gunshot wound to his back, face and right shoulder in October ’16, eventually returning to Australia and Adelaide in April ’18 and finally being discharged at the end of June that year. He had been awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. On his return, Alexander was welcomed back home at a social in the Hanson street hall. He was presented with a shaving kit from fellow members of the Adelaide Corporation gardener's employees staff as a token of their esteem in which they were held by their comrades and the sacrifice that he had made for his country.
Ron met Kathleen Dala Delo of Stepney, with the two announcing their engagement in July ’35. Just over two years later, they married in the Holy Trinity Church on North Terrace, with Ron chosing his brother, Frank as his best man. Their reception was in a building later known as Cox-Foys, an original department store chain then known as Foy and Gibson.
Ron worked as a motor mechanic, a skill which would later be useful as he served overseas. With the outbreak of WWII, as a 31-year-old, he enlisted on the 5th July ’40, becoming SX7891 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He was soon aboard the Stratheden which left on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. The battalion was soon to be involved in its first action in what was then called the Benghazi Handicap.
In the intense fighting which ensued, Ron received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder on the 15th April, just five months after his arrival. That month, the battalion had set up to defend Tobruk, having had to withdraw over 270 miles in dusty, hurried conditions. History records that the odds were well against the 9th Division of three to one in soldiers and guns, ten to one in tanks and a complete deficit of air support. It was there in the dust, flies, sand, rats and fleas that the men, including Ron, earned their proudly held, unofficial badge of being Rats of Tobruk.
Just after dawn, John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan recorded that ‘the enemy opened fire on D Company, and a small party of Italians approached to within 150 yards of the wire before being driven back.’ These forays continued in intensity as the Italians attacked and came under intense mortar fire. Privates Van Den Brink and MacNamara were killed instantly by a direct mortar hit and Ron was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. Almost two months of treatment followed before he was able to return to his battalion.
Back home, the list of killed and injured appeared in local newspapers. It was a constant reminder of the conditions the enlistees faced and the effects of war on families waiting anxiously for news. Ron was in the second list in the May issue of the Chronicle. Many of his fellow 2/48th mates were also listed.
Second List Killed in Action— Pte. G. H. Dickinson, SX7649, Peterborough; Pte. W. E. Dunn, SX6958, place not given; Pte. E. G. Hextall, SX8285, Auburn; Pte. F. MacNamara, SX7418, Kingston; Pte. A. I. Riebe, SX9241, Waikerie; Pte. C. S. Tucker, SX8578, Redfern; Pte. L. H. Van Den. Brink, SX7279, Richmond. Died of Wounds.— Pte. K. A. Barry, SX7575, Adelaide. Wounded in Action. — Pte. R. T. Christie, SX8273, Angaston; Pte. G. A. Cohen, SX8165, Angle Vale; Pte. R. G. Daniels, SX7863, Rosewater Gardens; Pte. C. S. Deering, SX77O2, Alberton; Sgt. J. W. Hanley, SX7129, Grassmere; Pte. R. B. Lovelock, SX7399, Karoonda; Cpl. F. B. Pearson, SX7056, Kilkenny; Pte. A. R. Sara, SX9334, Ethelton; Pte. R. A. Small, SX7891, Redfern; Pte. J. A. Tregilgas, SX6885, Norwood.
Finally, the 2/48th returned to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43. Ron undertook special training at the end of ‘43, displaying excellent skills in both the written and practical components, being praised for his ‘ability to use tools and equipment’, utilising and adapting his peacetime skills as a motor mechanic.
Training in Queensland followed as the men prepared to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Ron developed new expertise as a Group I Armourer, involved in repairing and recovering equipment and expertise to a Brigade, as part of the 2/78 Light Aid Detachment – an essential role. While in New Guinea, Ron was affected by several bouts of malaria and high temperatures (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) before finally being discharged on the 11th September ’45.
Ron’s veteran father lived to see his son return home and enjoy peace. Alexander Snr died on the14th April ’48.
Ron’s older brother, Roy pre-deceased him, aged 77 and his remains were placed in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery in February ’83. Aged 82, Ron died on the 5th November 1991 and was buried in the same cemetery, Anglican section, Row Z, Site 12. Kathleen lived to be 82 and died in October 2004.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.