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War Memorial
Australia

ROBERTS, Ronald Weston known as ‘Ron’ or ‘Digger’ born 1 November 1919 Wonnerup,  enlisted 22 Sept 1941 in Claremont WA. Ron Roberts was one of six children born to parents Edmund (Barney) Roberts born in SA and Alice Ivy Catchpole who married 1919 in Perth.  Ron was the eldest of four boys and two girls.  The family eventually settled in Nannup.

As a reinforcement for 2/4th Machine gun Battalion, Ron who had three months training at Northam Army Camp, departed WA on 15 January 1941 for Singapore.   He joined ‘E’ Company which was made up all reinforcements with trained officers who mostly transferred from other 2/4th Companies.  Tragically ‘E’ Company ran into a Japanese ambush resulting in a very high death loss.  Ron Roberts was KIA South-West Bukit Timah 11 February 1942 aged just 20 years.

The following information is by Ghosts in Khaki by Les Cody.

E’ COMPANY, SPECIAL RESERVE BATTALION (formed 7/2/1942)  More than half of this Coy lost their lives 11 Feb 1942. 

Major Bert Saggers was appointed on 7 February 1942 as CO Special Reserve Battalion.  With the exception of some Machine Gunners of ‘E’ Coy (about 90 men) – the unit had only received basic infantry training.  Those from the Service Corps had little if any field training.   

‘E’ Coy joined 2/4th Battalion at Fremantle 15 January 1942 – less than a month later had lost more than one third of the original draft of 120 men.  Including the wounded, battle casualty figures became over 50%.  Half of the men had less than four months training, eight had been in the army less than three months and six men less than two months when they went into action.  How terrifying!

On  morning of 8 February, the CO continued to have discussions with Division on basic requirements, i.e. organisation, equipment, stores and camp locations. 

There had scarcely been time to establish companies, platoons and sections before being sent forward that same morning to support 2/29th Btn at Tengah Airfield.   

Ron's father  Edmund Henry Roberts  No. His father  Edmund Henry Roberts  No. 4867 enlisted WW1 at Narriogin  May 1915 aged 23 years with 3RD Field Ambulance.  He arrived Galipoli as a nursing staff reinforcement No. Casualty Clearing Station. This would have been a harrowing role because they were continually subjected to Turkish shelling, and many lost their lives.  He suffered shell-shock amongst other things.  He returned to Australia on ‘Nestor’ with duties 9 Feb 1916.  He returned to France 23 Mar 1917. enlisted WW1 at Narriogin  May 1915 aged 23 years with 3RD Field Ambulance.  He arrived Galipoli as a nursing staff reinforcement No. Casualty Clearing Station. This would have been a harrowing role because they were continually subjected to Turkish shelling, and many lost their lives.  He suffered shell-shock amongst other things.  He returned to Australia on ‘Nestor’ with duties 9 Feb 1916.  He returned to France 23 Mar 1917 then returned to Australia 26 September 1917 .