Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ronald was born in Loxton on the 2nd February 1917 to Henry and Mabel Myrtle. He was the fifth son and one of six children with siblings including Perce, Gordon, Colin, Geoffrey, Robert Stanley Clifford (Cliff) and Margaret. Ron also had five step siblings. In his early years Ronald was nick-named ‘Rosie’, which he outgrew to become Ron.
Henry had been allocated a block of 361 acres by the Land Board in the Moorook Irrigation Area in April ’22. The family lived in this Riverland area of South Australia, between Loxton and Kingston on Murray, with the children attending the small local Moorook School. They quickly became stalwarts of the local community with Henry being Chairman of the Infant Welfare Club for a while. The whole family was actively involved in activities run by the Welfare Club, including A Children’s Frolic where Ron and his friend won a prize for their costumes. (In less politically correct times, their costumes were reported as being ‘abo and gin’.) Young sister, Margaret went as a Dutch Pair. The previous year Ron had dressed as ‘bedtime’ and Margaret as a jester.
The local newspaper, Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record, encouraged children to write in and share their experiences with ‘Mother Mopoke’, which ten-year-old Ron did. He shared his adventures which were published in April 27.
‘Moorook. April 5. Dear Mother Mopoke,—I have been going to school for four years and was ten years old last birthday. I live quite near the swamp, and one night I was riding a calf and had a small accident. The calf ran away and I found myself on the ground. Luckily, I was not hurt. I am very fond of horses, and every chance I get I ride one. One night I was riding a horse called "Dina" when she took it into her head to jump over a heap of sticks. I am sorry to say I was thrown off; this time also I was unhurt. I have a pet cat at home. We have learnt a song at school called "The Old Black Cat," and I think ours is something like that one—full of fun and frisky. There are many more things I could tell but as I shall be writing again I will save it for next time. I am. yours sincerely. RONALD DADLEFF.’
‘My dear Ronald,—I am very glad to have you for a clubmate and hope you will write often. Now if you go tumbling off animals how are you going to stick on in our pony races; You will have to get some glue. I think you will need some practice.— MOTHER MOPOKE.’
Within days, Ron’s little brother, three-year-old Cliff died on the 24th April at the Loxton Hospital and was buried in the Moorook Cemetery. He was mourned as the youngest son of Mabel and Henry, loved brother of Ronald (Rosie) Dadleef and loved half-brother to his Vercoe siblings. This was a devastating time for the family who continued to mourn their little brother and son. In the ensuing years his broken-hearted family continued to place a memorial to him.
At the end of ’28, Ron was involved in a school concert as a lead ‘character’ in a cantata, "The Rose of Joy" as a dragon. The following year, aged twelve, Ron was one of several boys involved in a pruning competition run by the Moorook branch of the Agricultural Bureau. He proved to be particularly competent in currant and gordo pruning in a category for boys attending school. He was also quite an athlete, also. At the ’31 School picnic held at the picturesque Wigley’s Hat playground, eleven miles from the town, all the children and families were transported in an assortment of motor lorries and cars (in pre-seatbelt times). Jack won the over 11 years sprint, the Open school handicap and wheelbarrow race with Aza King. (Aza was also later to enlist the same year as Ron. He became SX10606, a gunner with the 2nd/14th Field Regiment.)
The Dadleff family were prominent with their involvement in activities, including raising funds for the Anglican Church which opened in ’33. Young Peggy was part of the ceremony, presenting a bouquet of flowers, and Mabel being a coordinator of refreshments.
The following year, 17-year-old Ron was also grieving the loss of his mother, Mabel in October ’34. ‘DADLEFF.—On the 10th October, at Moorook, Mabel Myrtle, dearly beloved wife of Henry and loving mother of Perc., Gordon, Colin, Geoffrey, Ronald, and Margaret.’
Three years later, Ron’s father married for the second time in 1937 to Harriett Sylvia Reid.
Post school, Ron had become a labourer but managed to buy a motor bike. He and his good friend, Frank Fettke were out motor bike riding in January ’40 when they crashed into planks being used to load wheat. Ron was knocked unconscious and sustained severe lacerations to his face and throat. His motorbike was badly damaged and his pillion passenger, Frank was badly shaken. Whilst first aid was immediately rendered, Ron was taken to hospital. Fortunately, as with his falls from various animals, he was ‘lucky’ to survive.
With the outbreak of WWII 23-year-old Ron enlisted on the 25th May 1940 at Myrla and was given the number SX3532, and allocated to the 2/48th battalion. His pillion passenger from the bike accident, Frank, enlisted at a similar time, becoming SX5387 in the sister battalion, the 2/43rd. Frank rose to become a Sergeant, and also survived the war. In his early days, Ron sustained a series of niggling injuries, including to his eye, fibrositis, lumbago and a strained muscle, resulting in him spending time in Kapara Home to recover.
During brief pre-embarkation leave, Ron returned home. In a very poignant farewell, the school children and Ron’s friends assembled at the Myrla siding to honour Pte. Dadleff as he boarded the train after spending his leave in the district. Everyone present shook hands with Ron and the teacher, Mr. McElroy presented him with a parcel. As the train moved away the two elder boys held the Union Jack and all the students joined in the singing of "Wish me luck as you wave me Goodbye."
Ron arrived in the Middle East in March ’41, spending time at a training camp in Amiriya but soon after developed an extremely high temperature called Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO), causing him to be hospitalised before he was again able to re-join the 2/48th Battalion. He undertook training in Field Works with the 9th Australian Special group, where he scored highly with 81% and the comment that he had ‘good results and was keen’ Early in ’42 Ron again contracted a throat infection, pharyngitis, having a week with the field ambulance. He then undertook study with the 9th Division Signals School, with ‘average’ results. By December that year, Ron went absent without leave, costing him a day’s pay.
Soon after, the 2/48th finished their stint in the Middle East and returned to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43. He returned home for well-earned leave in March. Back home, the Moorook Sub-branch of the RSL held a social in honour of the returned men from the Middle East. Ron and the other soldiers were congratulated on the splendid manner in which they had acquitted themselves. Regret was expressed that it was not their final "home coming" but all in attendance hoped it would not be long before the men all would be permanently back home. Gunner Frank Battams, S306772 responded on behalf of the soldiers. Also from the 2/48th battalion was Harold Gogel, SX9376.
As did many soldiers during this brief time at home on leave, Ron took the opportunity to marry Audrey May Little on the 25th April ’43. He was also experiencing a return of the painful inflammation of his muscles and joints, particularly in his rib area. For a man more used to country conditions, rather than a war zone, he was also diagnosed with an anxiety state ‘with pulmonary fixation’, believing he had a problem with his heart and lungs.
This carried no weight with army personnel, so Ron and the battalion then headed to Queensland to train for a very different terrain in the tropics of New Guinea and against a very different enemy. Ron arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43 where he was graded as a Group II Signaller. Within two months Ron had contracted malaria and by the end of the year was classified as medically fit for certain duties that required only restricted medical fitness. Malaria and Fibrositis continued to affect Ron until he returned to Townsville at the start of ’44. Ron continued to require medical treatment for malaria and also his mental state, termed Anxiety neurosis. (Today, much more is understood about post-traumatic syndrome, the cause, symptoms and support required.)
By April that year, Ron had sustained a fracture to his right radius and a painful right knee condition, often typified by an excess of fluid in the joint. His health continued to deteriorate over the following month, with his diagnosis finally being that he was unfit for service outside Australia. Inevitably, the army instigated an investigation which found that Ron’s fractured wrist was caused by him hand cranking a car engine, sustained at Loxton. (Most cars in that era were started by having to vigorously having to hand-crank the engine.) By July ’44 Ron was granted seasonal leave, then special leave over August and September. Whilst a reactionary warrant for Ron’s arrest was issued in August ’44, this was fortunately cancelled because of his injury.
His health was still variable, with his time in the desert without bathing water or the opportunity to change socks, resulting in the fungal infection of Tinea Versicolor flaring in November. Fortunately, the army acknowledged that at enlistment he had experienced attacks which in the early days of his training. Ron was finally discharged in January ’45 and initially lived at College Park but he and Audrey holidayed back to Myrla. The first of three daughters, Daphne Joan, arrived in November ’45. Brenda followed in March ‘47 and Ronda May in June 51.
Aged just 40, Ron died on the 4th October, 1957. He was buried in the Loxton Cemetery, where his grave is marked with a plaque commemorating his war service as Private SX5532. Audrey lived to be 81 and died in September 2003, resting now with Ron.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.