TAYLOR, Ronald
| Service Number: | 20863 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 June 1935 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Seaman |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 29 April 1918 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Indian Ocean, 4 March 1942, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom Panel 72 Col 3 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Jun 1935: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Leading Seaman, 20863 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Leading Seaman, 20863 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cheryl Thompson
Australian Naval History on 4 March 1942
On This Day · Mar 4, 1942 ·
HMA Ships, MARYBOROUGH, (CMDR G.L. Cant, RAN, Commander of the Australian corvettes), BURNIE, GOULBURN, BALLARAT, TOOWOOMBA, WOLLONGONG, and BENDIGO, (corvettes), were headed for Australia, from Tjilatjap.
The sloop HMAS YARRA, (LCDR Robert Rankin, RAN), MMS 51, (minesweeper), and the merchant ships ANKING and FRANCO, were overwhelmed and sunk in the Indian Ocean by Japanese fleet of 3 cruisers, (ATAGO, TAKAO and MAYA), and destroyers, commanded by VADM Kondo. YARRA, senior ship in the convoy, engaged the enemy fleet after ordering her convoy to scatter. Of the ship’s complement of 151, 138 lost their lives, and the 13 survivors were later picked up by a Dutch submarine. LS RONALD TAYLOR in charge of the last remaining gun, continued to fire after the abandon ship order, until he too was killed.
Naval Historical Society of Australia
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