YORK, Ronald Darcy
| Service Number: | WX9425 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 December 1940, Claremont, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Jarrahdale, Western Australia, 31 October 1917 |
| Home Town: | Jarrahdale, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Papua , 8 September 1942, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea Plot B3. Row A. Grave 6. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Jarrahdale War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Dec 1940: | Enlisted Private, WX9425, Claremont, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Jul 1941: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, Embarked from Fremantle for M.E. Disembarked in M.E. on 25 July 1941. | |
| 25 Jul 1941: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre, 21 A.I.T. Bn. | |
| 31 Dec 1941: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jan 1942: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Embarked from M.E. for India on "Ile de France". Transferred to "Kosciusko" at Bombay to R.T.A. Disembarked at 4MD in Adelaide on 25 March 1942. | |
| 25 Mar 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Commenced retraining for Papua and New Guinea deployment. | |
| 8 Aug 1942: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Embarked from Queensland for Papua. Disembarked at Port Moresby on 13 August 1942. | |
| 8 Sep 1942: | Involvement Private, WX9425, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Kokoda - Papua | |
| 8 Sep 1942: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX9425, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, K.I.A. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Maurice Kissane
Ronald Darcy York was born in Jarrahdale in Western Australia in 1917. He was the eldest son of John Darcy York and Clara York (nee Eacott). He had five siblings.
Ron was the second born and worked as a Gardener.
He preferred horticulture work as opposed to being inside from the elements doing boring office work.
He likely had aspirations of having his own gardening business but all that changed when war was declared.
In 1940, Ron volunteered for overseas servce in the 2nd A.I.F. He fought in the Middle East before being recalled to fight in closer to home. Imperial Japan's entry into the war meant that Ron's unit was recalled for jungle training. Then re-deployed to the Papuan Territory.
He luck finally run out on the Kokoda Track. Ron was KIA in the epic Efogi battle on 8 September 1942. He was initially buried close to where he fell. That was the only practical option during hostilites. Then reburied post war in Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
His death in 1942 came one month to the day, after he had embarked from Australia, for what was the second time.
Ron was a son, a brother and an uncle who answered the call to arms. He did his duty and remains a hero to his family.
"OUR BRAVE HERO" is the epitaph that his family had inscribed on his Official Commonwealth War Graves Commission Headstone.
He rests in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Lest We Forget.
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