HENNESSY, Ronald Edward George
Service Number: | NX11923 |
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Enlisted: | 11 April 1940 |
Last Rank: | Private |
Last Unit: | 2/10 Tank Battalion |
Born: | Lithgow, New South Wales, 5 January 1916 |
Home Town: | Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
Died: | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, cause of death not yet discovered, date not yet discovered |
Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
11 Apr 1940: | Enlisted Private, NX11923, Paddington, New South Wales | |
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11 Apr 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX11923 | |
12 Apr 1940: | Involvement Private, NX11923 | |
27 Apr 1942: | Discharged Private, NX11923, 2/10 Tank Battalion | |
27 Apr 1942: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX11923 |
"The Wreck of Nancy Lee"
I am not a blood relative of Ron although I love him and consider myself to still be his great granddaughter.
I have such fond memories growing up with Ron and his partner Iris whom were our next door neighbours.
The most vivid memory that I have of the time we shared (along with my brother and sister) was sitting under the back patio, Ron with a VB stubby in hand and me sitting on his lap whilst he sang to us. The only line that I can remember from the song is "And he played the ekulele as the ship went down".
Its only in the last couple of years that I have looked into this song and found it! "The Wreck of the Nancy Lee", I was so happy that it brought me to tears.
I am unsure if this is a song that he and his mates would sing during WWII or if it was something that his father or mother would sing to him when he was a child. I loved it.
I just wish that we could have had a couple more years with Ron so that I would have been at an age where I could have been more aware of the feats that he achieved, the sacrifices that he made and the hard times that he endured for his counter; for us.
But in saying that I do remember him as a kind man with a big booming laugh, a massive heart and such a loving nature. Some of these qualities can be hard to find in people and he had them all and so much more.
And of course as if a little girl would forget…. when he would come to visit every morning he would be the first one awake, he would go straight to the bathroom and have a shave, go down the street to get his paper and juice or soft drink for us kids. along with my favourite biscuits; monte carlos. Spoilt rotten!
I think of you often Ron and I am doing so much research to learn all about "The Rats of Tobruk" and your wonderful life. I miss you so very much.
Rachael and I will come to visit you next year on your 100th Birthday with fresh Snap Dragons - You know how much we love those. Thank you for everything you have done and for the wonderful memories we have shared. Love you xxx
Submitted 11 December 2015 by Jaclyn Barnes
Biography
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