The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
-
Beckham
- First Name:
-
Ronald Clifford
- Nick Name:
-
Ron
- Rank:
-
Private
- Regimental #:
-
WX1342
- Company:
-
Attached 2/4th 2.3.1942 from Anti-Tank Regiment
- Enlisted:
-
12.05.1941
- Discharged:
-
15.07.1946
- DOB:
-
28.09.1924
- Place of Birth:
-
Fremantle, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
-
Reuben Thomas Beckham
- Mothers's Name:
-
Olive Vera Beckham ( nee Corney)
- Religion:
-
Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
-
Farmhand
- Singapore:
-
Selarang Barracks Changi, Sime Road Camp, Changi Gaol Camp, X10 Party.
- Force:
-
'H' Force Group No. 3
- Return Details 1945:
-
Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Fremantle, H M T Strathmore.
General Description
Ron at age 16 enlisted underage. He was formerly a Home Service soldier (Regimental No. W4800) with 5th AA Battery. On 7n April 1941 Beckham stowed away on a transport ship to Singapore. On arrival he was charged, admonished and allotted AIF Regimental No. WX13421. He was then Taken on Strength in Malaysia with HQ AIF Australia and later to 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. In March 1945 he was attached to 2/4th MGB.
As a POW Singapore, Ron was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘H’ Force and returned to Singapore before end of December 1943. ‘H’ Force Thailand
During July 1945 Beckham was selected to work with X.10 Party. Please read further.
Below: In July 1946 Beckham and 2/4th soldier Douglas Godfrey Ross were in court with 2/4th’s George Gwynne representing them.
Ron was eldest of four children born to Lancashire born Reuben Thomas Beckham and Olive Vera Corney who married about 1926. Olive was born Coolgardie. Reuben had two brothers Mervyn and Leslie and one sister Patricia. Mervyn also enlisted into AIF WX500308. Patricia married and died in SA.
Reuben Beckhan died 1992 Leederville and Olive Beckham died 27 June 1965 Perth.
Returning to WA from war and by 1947 Ron had moved to South Australia where he married Florence Patricia Lester and had a family of four children Mervyn, Murray, Ronald and Theresa.
Ron Beckham died Adelaide, South Australia 11 Mar 1971 aged 46 years.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Sime Road Camp - Singapore
