Ronald Hamilton Cornish
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 14 Dec 1915 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 22 Mar 1971, aged 55 |
| Place of Death | Fremantle |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 10 months |
| Description | 5'9½" (1.76m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; hazel eyes ; fair hair ; birthmark on left hip |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Byford, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Bertram Hugo Cornish |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX9035 |
| Date of Enlistment | 25 Oct 1940 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | 5 Platoon, A Company, 2/4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 30 Dec 1941 ‒ 1 Jan 1942 |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 4 Jan 1942 ‒ 20 Jan 1942 |
| Transport Details | HMT Aquitania Port Moresby to Suda Strait via Sydney, Perth |
| Journey Dates | 20Jan 1942 ‒ 24 Jan 1942 |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 20 Aug 1945 ‒ 20 Aug 1945 |
| Transport Details | Aircraft Thailand to Singapore |
| Journey Dates | 15 Oct 1945 ‒ 24 Oct 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMT Moreton Bay Singapore to Fremantle |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
POW (Singapore) Returned to Australia |
| Monument(s) | ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| External Monument(s) | The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
In a 1939 electoral roll for Canning, Ron is listed as living in Cardup and working as a Brickmaker. His parents Bertram and Eva were also living in Cardup. Ron was Married on 3 Aug 1940 to Aldwyn (yet he listed his father as NOK). Ron was a champion amateur wrestler at age 17, and he captained the Armadale football team for several years, as well as being a gymnasium instructor.
Ron was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal and Certificate for rescuing a miner
War Service
Enlisted full time on 25 Oct 1940 at Claremont camp. On 5 Nov 1940 Ron was appointed an Acting Lance Corporal, before being admitted on 12 Nov 1940 to the Camp Dressing Station until 15 Nov 1940. On the same day that he was discharged from hospital he was promoted Acting Corporal, and on 27 Nov 1940 he was transferred to No. 3 Depot Battalion. On 4 Dec 1940 Ron was transferred to the 2/4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion. Ron was promoted Acting Lance Sergeant on 27 May 1941, and he was granted pre-concentration leave from 1 - 8 Jul 1941. On 21 Jul 1941 he embarked in Fremantle on HMT Duntroon for Adelaide, disembarking on 25 Jul 1941. On 27 May 1941 Ron was appointed Acting Lance Sergeant.
Next day, 28 July in Woodside Camp, Ron was admitted to the Woodside Camp Hospital where he received treatment until 4 Aug 1941 when he rejoined his unit. On 11 Oct 1941 Ron entrained for the Northern Territory arriving there on 19 October. On 30 Dec 1941 Ron embarked on a small ship (either SS Marella or HMAS Westralia) in Darwin for the journey to Port Moresby where they boarded HMT Aquitania for Singapore via Sydney and Fremantle. On 20 Jan 1942 the troops transshipped from Aquitania to two smaller Dutch vessels which carried them to Singapore, disembarking on 24 January 1942
Promoted Sergeant on 7 Feb 1942
"Adam Park Camp - Singapore Johore Bahru, - Malaysia Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore 'S' Battalion of 'D' Force in Thailand POW Number 8717 - Konkoita camp Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma Reptu, Retphaw, 30Kilo 385k - Burma Thanbyuzayat, 415k - Burma"
Evacuated from Thailand to Singapore by aircraft, and then from Singapore to Fremantle on HMT Moreton Bay Discharged 19 Dec 1945
Post War
Notes