Private Ronald Nelson Robert Birch
- Rank
- Private
- Appointment
- Australian Army 1942 South West Pacific
- Service number
- WX4717
- Unit
- 2/16 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- New Guinea
- Date of death
- 1 December 1942
- Age
- 29
- Plaque number
- L403A
- Co-located plaques
- L403 - PTE Leonard Aubrey
- Dedicated by
- His family on 8 June 2024
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Ronald Nelson Robert Birch was born in May 1913 at Fremantle, Western Australia to parents Richard Aubrey and Hannah Maud Birch who were married in South Fremantle.
Ronald was one of eight siblings and he attended the Fremantle Boys School. After completing his schooling, Ronald found work as a labourer. He was a keen sportsman playing cricket and tennis, and he supported the South Fremantle Football Club.
In June 1940 Ronald enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Perth. He was living in East Fremantle with his father and three brothers, as his mother had died in 1938.
After completing his training at Northam, he embarked for overseas service from Fremantle, disembarking in Egypt in November 1940.
In early 1941 the 2/16 Australian Infantry Battalion was sent to the Egypt-Libya border to defend against a possible German attack; this did not eventuate with the battalion returning back to Palestine.
The battalion commenced their campaign in Syria-Lebanon against the Vichy French by June 1941.
By early 1942, the battalion returned to Australia to conduct jungle training in preparation to be sent to New Guinea.
In August 1942, they embarked from Australia arriving in Port Moresby, a week later where they were rushed into the lines along the Kokoda Track halting the Japanese advances.
By December 1942, the battalion had reached the northern side of the Kokoda Track at Gona where they attacked the well-prepared positions of the Japanese. Gaining their objective, they suffered heavy casualties only to withdraw due to their depleted numbers.
It was during these attacks at Gona that Ronald was killed in action; his exact fate is unknown.
Private Ronald Nelson Robert Birch, service number WX4717 of 2/16 Battalion, was killed in action on 1 December 1942. He was 29 years of age.
He is buried at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, New Guinea.
His plaque is located alongside Private Leonard Aubrey who was wounded in the same action.