NUMBER:

V190213

BATTALION / UNIT / SHIP:

22nd Infantry Battalion

PLACE & DATE OF BIRTH:

Leongatha 29 April 1917

NEXT OF KIN:

Irene Watson, his wife. He was the son of Robert and Mary Watson of Leongatha

PLACE & DATE OF ENLISTMENT:

12 March 1941 in Leongatha

LOCATION ON ENLISTMENT:

Whelan's Mardan 

OCCUPATION:

Farmer

PLACE & DATE OF DEATH:

4 December 1943 aged 26 in Papua New Guinea

LOCATION OF GRAVE/MEMORIAL:

He is buried in Lae War Cemetery Papua New Guinea

RELATIONSHIP TO WOORAYL SHIRE:

He and his family resided in Leongatha and Mardan.

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:

Ron was an original member of the Leongatha detachment of the 22nd Militia Battalion when it was formed in 1938 and went on to full time army service in 1941.

The 22nd Australian Infantry Battalion sailed for New Guinea in early 1943 and saw action in Milne Bay, Lae and Finschhafen.  In December 1943 Ron�s 18th platoon was attacked from a well sited Japanese position. Ron was killed and four others wounded. Ron was buried in the Lae War Cemetery.