RONSON, William
| Service Number: | 3102 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Coffs Harbour, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery Plot I, Row F, Grave No 2 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3102, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3102, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3102, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3102, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3102 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Ronson was the first of three brothers to enlist in WW1, only one of whom returned to Australia. They were the sons of John and Anne Jane Ronson of Dorrigo NSW. The father had passed away in 1912.
William embarked from Australia with the 1st Battalion in late 1915. During early 1916 he was transferred to 53rd Battalion during the reorganisation of AIF, and sent to the fighting in France.
As a member of 53rd Battalion he was part of the Battle for Fromelles, only 3 weeks after his arrival in France. William was listed as missing in action during the fighting, believed killed on 19 July 1916, with 'no known grave'. Originally, William was commemorated at VC Corner, Australian Cemetery, Fromelles. In 2010 he was one of the soldiers identified from the burial pit at Fromelles.
William’s remains were exhumed and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery.
His younger brother, 3204 Joseph Ronson 25th Battalion AIF was killed in action only 10 days after his brother, 60 kilometres to the south at Pozieres on 29 July 1916.
Another brother, 3203 Private Robert Ronson 26th Battalion survived the war and returned home during 1919.
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