Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 23/04/1940
- Date of Discharge
- 20/03/1946
- Place of Enlistment
- Canberra ACT
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 03/09/1919
- Place of Birth
- Windsor, Victoria
- Address (at enlistment)
- Westlake (Yarralumla) ACT
- School(s) Attended
- Telopea Park School (1926 - )
- Occupation
- Labourer
- Next of Kin
- Ernest Box (father), Westlake (Yarralumla) ACT
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- NX151938
- Final Rank
- Private
- Final Unit
- 2/2 Australian Infantry Battalion
Notes
According to his enlistment papers, Ron Box joined the 3rd Battalion (militia) on 8 December 1939 but was not called up for active service until 28 October 1941. He was transferred to the 53rd Battalion the following month and arrived in Port Moresby on 3 January 1942. The men of the 53rd Battalion had little time for training as they were mostly used as labourers constructing defences around Moresby or working on the wharf in the port. They were sent up the Kokoda Track in early August 1942 to support the 39th Battalion then facing the Japanese near Isurava. Their lack of training and the loss of their commanding officer contributed to the recall of the battalion in September 1939 and Box was transferred to the 39th Battalion. At the end of November 1942 the 39th Battalion were flown across the Owen Stanley's to assist in the capture of Gona which they completed on 18 December. They then assisted in the battle on the Sanananda track near Huggins Road Block.
Box joined the AIF on 20 March 1943 and on 3 July 1943 he transferred to the 2/2 Battalion. He fought with the 2/2 Battalion in the campaign from Aitape to Wewak in New Guinea from December 1944 to August 1945. In December 1945 he was transferred to the 2/1 Field Regiment before returning home and being discharged on 20 March 1946.
Sources
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Val Emerton, 'Past Images Present Voices', 1996 (p.150)
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883 (Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)
'Admissions register 1925-1954 Telopea Park District School at Telopea Park Canberra', HAGSOC