Ronald John GARRETT

GARRETT, Ronald John

Service Number: 34344
Enlisted: 1 April 1941, Williamstown, Victoria
Last Rank: Stoker
Last Unit: HMAS Warrnambool
Born: Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, 25 January 1923
Home Town: Malvern East, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Died of Injuries (floating mine), Cockburn Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, 28 August 1972, aged 49 years
Cemetery: Cairns War Cemetery
Plot B. Row A. Grave 2.,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

1 Apr 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Stoker 2/c, 34344, HMAS Lonsdale (Depot / Base), Williamstown, Victoria
1 Apr 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, 34344
14 Jul 1945: Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Stoker, 34344, HMAS Lonsdale (Depot / Base)

Peacekeeping Service

10 Jan 1947: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Stoker, Re-enlisted
13 Sep 1947: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Stoker, 34344, HMAS Warrnambool

Help us honour Ronald John Garrett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by John Edwards

Son of Jesse Leonard and Ivy Hazel Peace Garrett; husband of Rebecca Garrett, of West Melbourne, Victoria.

"Local Lad Associated With "Warrnambool" Disaster

Interviewed after the tragic accident when H.M.A.S. Warrnambool struck a mine and sank off north Australia, Stoker Kevin Dollard, 23, of Narracoorte, told of trying to rescue Stoker R. J. Garrett, of West Melbourne, one of the three men who lost their lives. "The explosion threw me to the deck near the port waist, but I got up and went to the seamen's mess looking for Garrett, who was my mate, he said. He was the first chap I saw when I went into the mess deck. I pulled him straight out on to the quarter deck, but could see he was badly hurt. I could not do anything about it, so I went back and gave a hand to get some of the others out." Kevin is a son of Mr. S. J. Dollard, of Narracoorte. His brother, Mr Colin Dollard, is a resident of Eden-hope." - from the Narracoorte Herald 29 Sep 1947 (nla.gov.au)

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