The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Jeffery
First Name:
Ronald Ralph
Nick Name:
Shorty
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Regimental #:
WX7697
Classification:
Scout
Company:
'B' Company, 9 Platoon
Enlisted:
10.08.1940
Discharged:
17.03.1972
DOB:
28.04.1917
Place of Birth:
Victoria Park, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Albert Jeffery
Mothers's Name:
Stella Theresa Jeffery (nee Mow)
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Teamster
Singapore:
Selarang Camp & Barracks Changi.
Force:
'D' Force Thailand, S Battaion (Capt. Fred Harris party)
Camps Thailand:
Non Pladok.
POW#:
4/6263
Return Details 1945:
Saigon‐Bangkok‐Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Brisbane by aircraft, Brisbane‐Sydney-Melboume‐Perth by troop train.

General Description

 Ron enlisted AIF 10 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Company 9 Platoon as a Scout under Commanding Officer Lt Lee.
Ron’s parents Albert Jeffery married Stella Theresa Mow in 1915, Perth.  Prior to his enlistment, Ron’s parents Albert and Stella Jeffery lived at Railway Cottage, Wongan Hills.  In later years they were recorded residing at Heytesbury Road, Subiaco.

 

EPSON MFP image
JEFFERY R J WEDDING JUNE 1941

 

EPSON MFP image
JEFFERY R .J.

 

Records show Ron left Singapore on 14 March 1943 with D’ Force ‘S’ Battalion to work on Thai-Burma Railway.  He then joined  Capt. Fred Harris Party
He was at Non Pladuk 3 March 1944, was selected by Japanese as being fit to work in Japan, returned to Singapore by train.  He departed Singapore 2 Feb 1945 for Saigon ‘Both’.  Please read about ‘Both’ Party.
Ron was at Saigon Docks Camp when the war ended.  He returned to Singapore on 20 Sep 1945.
After the war, Jeffery re-enlisted and served with the BCOF at Kure in Japan.  His Regt. No. on enlistment was WX500151.  Ron went on to the rank of Warrant Officer serving with an Australian Medical unit.
According to Electoral Rolls, Ronald Ralph Jeffery remained a soldier through the years 1954, 1977 and 1980 where he resided at 168 Heytesbury Road, Subiaco.
The following correspondence was received by Ron’s mother Stella Jeffery.  The first one confirming Ron was a POW.

Jeffery Ron R 2

Jeffery Ralph 4

 

Jeffery 5

 

 

Jeffery Ralph 3

Jeffery Ronald Ralph

 

Below:  We were able to trace Stella Mow and her brother Ralph attending school at Brown Hill, near to Kalgoorlie in 1903.

 

Below:  1929 Stella’s father, Ron’s Grandfather died at Bunbury.

Below:  Ron’s grandmother Rose Ann Mow died in 1943.

 

Below:  Ron’s uncle and Stella Jeffery’s brother died in Geraldton in 1945 aged 41 years.

 

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
  • Saigon - French Indo China
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