Private Bennet Ronald – From the Second World War to Korea

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Bennet Ronald was one of those rare individuals who could claim to have volunteered, fought, and survived two of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century – and, in many ways, of history. Although he (through no error of his own) missed the greatest Australian victories and defeats in the Mediterranean theatre, he more than redeemed himself by taking part in some of the fiercest battles of the Papuan Campaign and, later, the often-overlooked but no less bloody Korean War.

Bennet Ronald was born on 23rd August 1919 in Kybalup, Western Australia. He was a 20-year-old labourer when he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Claremont on 26th July 1940, at a time when Germany was at the height of its power, having just conquered France and preparing to invade Britain.

Having completed his basic training in the 13th Infantry Training Battalion, Ronald boarded the transport ship Aquitania in Fremantle, in January 1941. He was heading to the Middle East where Australian and Allied troops already had some of their first great victories at Bardia and Tobruk.  

Ronald disembarked in Palestine two months later and by 14th March 1941, he was posted to the Signals Training Battalion, before transferring on 24th July 1941 to the 2/11th Battalion, part of the 6th Australian Division. At this time, the battalion was stationed in Palestine and Syria, garrisoning Vichy French territories following the Syria–Lebanon campaign. The 2/11th Battalion had already seen fierce fighting in North Africa, Greece, and Crete, suffering heavy losses. By the time Ronald joined, they were recuperating, training, and manning defensive positions in the Middle East, so he missed most of the action.

When Japan entered the war in late 1941, the Australian government recalled most 6th Division units to defend Australia. Ronald embarked from the Middle East on the troopship Durban Castle in February 1942, disembarking back in Australia in March 1942.

Soon after Ronald’s return, disciplinary problems appear in his record. On 2nd June 1942, while at Bellevue, Western Australia, he was charged with being Absent Without Leave (AWL) for 24 hours. His punishment was the automatic forfeiture of one day’s pay. Later that year, in November–December 1942, he committed a series of five offences, including being beyond the limits of camp, neglecting to obey orders, and conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline. For these, he was fined £1–10s by his commanding officer of the 2/11th Battalion. Another AWL charge followed on 5–6th June 1943, this time at Adelaide, for which he was fined £5 and awarded 14 days’ extra duties, again with loss of pay.

Despite these infractions, Ronald continued to serve with the battalion as it moved into jungle warfare training. In 1943, the 2/11th Battalion was based in Queensland, preparing for operations in New Guinea, where Japanese troops were amassing in preparation for the invasion of Australian mainland. It was on 5th November 1944 that Ronald embarked from Townsville, going into action at Aitape, New Guinea, on 13th November 1944.  At this time, his battalion formed part of the Aitape–Wewak campaign, a slow, grinding advance by the 6th Division along the northern coast of New Guinea against well-entrenched Japanese forces.Conditions were extremely harsh. Disease was rampant, and Ronald himself was hospitalised with Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, a bad fever, at the 104th Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 6th December 1944, though he returned to duty shortly afterwards.

The battalion spent much of 1945 on long-range patrols, probing Japanese positions, and advancing through jungle-clad mountains toward Wewak. Supported by artillery and tanks, they gradually forced Japanese defenders back. On 1st December 1945, he embarked from Wewak aboard the transport ship Duntroon, disembarking in Brisbane on 7th December 1945. On 1st February 1946, after five and a half years of service, Bennet Ronald was formally discharged from the AIF.

By that time, Korea was already liberated from Japanese occupation, and divided along the 38th parallel into two rival states: the communist North and the democratic South. On 25th June 1950, North Korea, under Kim Il-sung, invaded South Korea in an attempt to unify the peninsula by force. The United Nations swiftly condemned the invasion and called on member states to assist in repelling the aggression. Australia, a founding member of the UN, was among the first nations to commit troops.

On 16th August 1950, as Australian forces were being urgently assembled for Korea, Ronald enlisted again at Royal Park, Victoria. Prior to this he was working as a plasterer for a construction company, and had been living at the Caledonian Hotel, Hamilton, Vic. He was divorced and had a six year old daughter, Coral Ann Ronald, that was listed as his next of kin. Ronald was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), already earmarked for combat. On 28th September 1950, he sailed with 3 RAR from Japan and landed at Pusan, Korea, as part of the 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade under U.S. 8th Army. His battalion was immediately committed to the UN’s counter-offensive northwards.

By 17th October 1950, 3 RAR was engaged at Sariwon, capturing the town after a dramatic encounter with North Korean forces. Just days later, on 21st October, Roland fought with his unit in the Battle of Yongyu (Apple Orchard), where the Australians overran enemy positions and rescued surrounded U.S. paratroopers.

The battalion continued its advance to Chongju and Pakchon in late October. On 30 October 1950, tragedy struck, 3 RAR’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Green, was mortally wounded by artillery fire, deeply affecting the men. The war changed dramatically in November 1950. As Chinese forces entered in massive numbers, Roland and 3 RAR were engaged in the bitter fighting around the Chongchon River before executing a hard fighting withdrawal south. Through December 1950, the battalion held defensive positions near Uijongbu and Chipyong-ni, facing freezing conditions and repeated enemy pressure.

On 1st January 1951, during these defensive operations, Roland was wounded in action in Korea. He was shot in the thigh and pelvis, which were serious wounds. He was evacuated the same day to the 8055 General Hospital (RAAF Hospital) in Korea. By 6th January 1951, he was invalided to Japan and admitted to the 46th British General Hospital / 155th British Port Holding Unit.

His former wife was notified of his wounding, and the news left her unsettled. The records include her letter after she was notified, in which she explained that she had not seen Ronald for 18 months and had not even known he was back in the Army, though they had “parted as friends.” She expressed a desire to contact him, writing: “I think he may like to hear from me. I wish his full address so I may perhaps let him know we still think of him occasionally.” Her words highlight the difficulties faced by all, but especially by servicemen, in an era before the means of communication we enjoy today.

Ronald’s condition meant he could not return to front-line duty. On 7th January, he was discharged from hospital and processed through the 50th Reinforcement Depot at Kure, Japan, where Commonwealth troops were staged and reassigned. Recognised as unfit for further Korean service, Roland embarked from Kure, Japan by aircraft, arriving in Sydney on 29th January 1951. On 22nd February 1951, he underwent a final medical assessment by the New South Wales Department, confirming his invalidation from overseas service.

Bennet was keen to stay in the Army, when he was asked where he would like to serve he answered ‘anywhere’! This saw him posted to the Headquarters of 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka, NSW, as a driver. He was considered on strength until the end of the Korean war in 1953, when he was officially honourably discharged. By this time he had served for 3 years and 19 days in the Korean conflict, of which 140 days of active service. During WWII he was in uniform for 1,989 days, of which 799 were overseas service.

He died on the 15th September 1992, survived by his Defacto wife, who continued to live in Camden, NSW. Both his Defacto wife and Niece engaged with the Australian Army to ensure that Bennet received all the medals he was entitled to.

For his service in two wars Private Bennet Ronald was awarded following medals: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45, Australia Service Medal 1939/45, Korea Medal, United Nations Service Medal (Korea), Australian Active Service Medal 1945–75 with Clasp Korea, and  Australian Service Medal 1945–75 with Clasp PNG.

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