The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Badock
First Name:
Ronald Collett
Nick Name:
Ron
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX8729
Company:
'B' Company
Enlisted:
23.10.1940
Discharged:
25.02.1946
DOB:
31.01.1919
Place of Birth:
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Charles Frederick Badock
Mothers's Name:
Ivy Euphemia Badock
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Sime Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi.
Force:
'D' Force Thailand, Captain Harris Party
Camps Thailand:
Kanchanaburi, Tarsau, Kinsaiyok, Chungkai (evacuated sick by barge) Non Pladuk
POW#:
4/5886
Return Details 1945:
Saigon-Bangkok-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Sydney, HMT Highland Chieftan, Sydney-Adelaide troop train, Adelaide-Perth by aircraft.

General Description

Ron enlisted AIF 23 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Coy  8 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt MacKinnon.

Please read about 8 Platoon

As a POW in Singapore he joined work parties going to Jahore Bahru, Adam Park and Sime Road.  Ron was sent to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force S Battalion.
Please read further.  
We believe Ron was separated from this main party sent to work at Hellfire Pass – he ended up spending time with Captain. Harris Party.  During this time he was evacuated sick from Kinsayok to Chungkai.  When sufficiently recovered he was sent to Non Pladuk Camp.
Capt. Fred Harris from his War Affidavit:
‘I was in captivity at Kanchanaburi camp, Thailand from 1st April 1943 until May 1943. I was in charge of a working party of approximately 200 men, half English and half Australian.  We were working on a night shift, loading ballast trains on the Kanburi River.’
It is thought that 19 or more men from 2/4th were connected with Capt. Harris. This party is recorded being at Non Pladuk on 4 March 1944.

Read further about Capt Harris Party

From here Ron was selected with ‘Both’ Party to go to Japan – only they didn’t get to Japan, and they remained in Saigon, French-Indo China.

Ron was recovered from French Indo-China at the end of war.

Read about Both Party, Saigon

Also read about the boys from Norseman.

 

 

Ronald Collett BADOCK was born 1919  to Charles Frederick and Ivy Euphemia ‘Effie’ Baker in Kalgoorlie.
Below:  is family photograph soon after Charles Frederick known as ‘Fred’  Badock died in 1927 of a brain tumuor.  He was a railway employee and pianist in a Goldfields dance band. Ivy had already buried two infant sons: Charles Badock [1912] and Leslie Badock [1921-1922].  At the time of this photograph Ivy was forced to send her two eldest sons to a Perth Orphanage for two year, sister Effie went to Tarcoola siding to live in a tent with her aunt.  A terrible time for Ivy to be separated from her and not knowing when she would be with them again.

It was not until 1930 when Ivy remarried  that she was able to bring all her children together as one family.

 

 

 

Nellie Clayton (nee Badock) 1910-1940 died 13 years later having her 6th child in 10 years she is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery near her infant brothers and father.
Reginald Badock 1914-1966 saw war service, was a chef on the WA Government Railways and was hit and killed at Perth Railway Station reporting for a late work shift. He left 6 young daughters.
Effie James (nee Badock) 1923-2017 was a telephonist at Norseman, Kalgoorlie, Boulder, Merredin, Guildford and Perth GPO from 1937-1946. She married and moved to Whyalla in 1946 but always called WA home.  Over the years Ron would visit his sister Effie in South Australia.

 

Below:  Ron’s father Fred had one brother and one sister. His brother Alfrerd ‘Reg’ Badock died aged 27 years at Broken Hill in 1912.

 

 

Above:  Just six months prior to his father’s death, Ron’s Grandfather Alfred Kyle Badock died in Kalgoorlie.

 

Below:  Funeral notice for Ron’s father Charles ‘Fred’ Badock.

Below:  Ron’s Grandmother Ellen Elizabeth Badock, his father’s mother died in Kalgoorlie 1932.

 

 

Ron loved his Aussie Rules Footy and played in Kalgoorlie, Norseman and 2/4th at Northam.  Please read further

 

Below:  Buffalo Cricket Club

Below:  just another sporting interest for Ron – Rifle Club

 

 

 

 

Below:  Ron marries Vera in 1950.

 

 


Ron celebrated his 97th birthday this year, 2016.  Ron meets with the 2/4th Committee on a monthly basis.  In the past
he has been an active member holding several positions, the last being Treasurer until about 2010.  Ron can only be described as a gentleman whom we all admire and whose company and knowledge we appreciate more than we can say.

 

John Morrisey, youngest son of Bert Morrisey receives his father's medals from John Gilmour & Ron Badock.
John Morrisey, youngest son of Bert Morrisey receives his father’s medals from John Gilmour & Ron Badock.

 

Service commemorating 65 years since VJ Day - 2010
Service commemorating 65 years since VJ Day – 2010
POW Memorial, Kings Park, 2013 Service to Remember End of War & Victory over Japan - Veterans John Gimour, Ron Badock, Dick Ridgwell, Wally Holding.
POW Memorial, Kings Park, 2013 Service to Remember End of War & Victory over Japan – Veterans John Gilmour, Ron Badock, Dick Ridgwell, Wally Holding.

 

2/4th social event. Ron Badock standing 5th from right.
2/4th social event. Ron Badock standing 5th from right.

 

Reunion over East - Worth, Kemp,Cowie, James and Badock.
Reunion over East – Worth, Kemp, Cowie, James and Badock sitting lowest..

 

 

Bunbury Re-union 1985

 

Con Ryan, Wally Limb and Ron Badock

Singapore 1992 Rear L - R ---, Tom Hampton, ---, Les Kemp, Norm Ablett, ..., Jack Kyrios, Ted Elliot. Front L - R, Jim Gilmour, John Gilmour, ---, Ron Badock, Jim Elliot.
Singapore 1992
Rear L – R —, Tom Hampton, —, Les Kemp, Norm Ablett, …, Jack Kyrios, Ted Elliot.
Front L – R, Jim Gilmour, John Gilmour, —, Ron Badock, Jim Elliot.

 

Fairbridge 2004 No 2

Trevor James, Jim Burns, Alf Worth, John Lane, Des Colevas, Bob Whitield, Joe Pearce (rear), Tom Pilmoor (front), Owen Morris, Jim Elliott, Ron Badock, Gordon Lynam
View Peter Winstanley’s video interview of Ron Badock, WX8729.
Read about Norseman’s Enlistments

 

Below:  Ron with John Gilmour, veterans at 2/4th Service.

 

Below:  Ron’s mother receives good new in Sep 1943.

 

Please read the story of Ted Keating from Kalgoorlie as told to us by Ron

 

 

14 December 2016.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our Committee Member and veteran Mr. Ron Badock on 1st December 2016.  Ron had spent the few months in and out of hospital.  As is his nature, he remained chirpy, always interested in others and never complained.  Ron would have celebrated his 98th birthday on 31st January 2017.
He will be greatly missed by the 2/4th Committee and we express our deepest sympathy to the Badock family who has always been strongly associated with the Battalion.    
We can be assured Ron’s interest and knowledge of the 2/4th, which never waived throughout his life, will continue wherever he travels.  
God Speed Ron, may the sun always shine for you.  
It was our pleasure to enjoy your friendship.

Camp Locations:

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  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Sime Road Camp - Singapore
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
  • Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
  • Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
  • Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
  • Saigon - French Indo China
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