William John RATCLIFFE

William John RATCLIFFE Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

RATCLIFFE, William John

Service Number:	NX52334
Enlisted:	2 July 1940
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/17th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 14 May 1911
Home Town:	Rosebery, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Killed in Action, Jivevaneng, New Guinea, 3 November 1943, aged 32 years
Cemetery:	Lae War Cemetery Cemetery/memorial reference: CC. B. 3.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, NX52334
2 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Private, NX52334, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion
11 Apr 1941:	Involvement Private, NX52334, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, Siege of Tobruk
23 Oct 1942:	Involvement Private, NX52334, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, El Alamein
3 Nov 1943:	Involvement Private, NX52334, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, New Guinea - Huon Peninsula / Markham and Ramu Valley /Finisterre Ranges Campaigns, KIA

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

Biography contributed by Jeffrey Crisdale

Extract from the defence of Jivevaneng Village on 3 Nov 1943:

"At 1900 hrs the eastern positions at the village were hit with 40 mortar bombs, 81mm, and these caused casualties, 2 killed and 3 wounded. The total casualties for the day's fighting on 3 Nov were 1 Offr DOW, 8 OR's KIA, and 10 wounded, with 1 remaining on duty."

[Source publication: "A History of 2/17 Australian Infantry Battalion 1940-45"]

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia