Ronald (Ron) SNELL

SNELL, Ronald

Service Number: WX17732
Enlisted: 21 November 1941
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depots
Born: Cottesloe, Western Australia , 30 January 1916
Home Town: Perth, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Unemployed
Died: Perth, Western Australia, 1 April 1974, aged 58 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

21 Nov 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX17732
5 Aug 1942: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX17732, ex Fremantle to Middle East per HMAT P4
6 Mar 1943: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX17732, ex Middle East to Fremantle
29 Apr 1943: Transferred Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depots
20 Jan 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX17732

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Ron was the second of six children of Harry Henry Snell (b1885 in Devon, England) and Louisa Jane Willey (b1893 in Beverley, WA). Harry was a Fisherman in Devon and worked as a Labourer when he arrived in WA. He and Louisa married in Perth WA in 1911 and settled in Cottesloe, Fremantle WA. The family was living in Victoria Park in 1933 where Harry and Louisa ran a Poultry Farm. The couple was electrocuted by elctrical wires in the fowl yard, and were discovered by eldest son Ron, who tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate his parents.

Ron was a Labourer and sleeping in a chaff house in Victoria Park when he was arrested in 1936 for being 'without visible means of support', and in 1939 badly broke his arm when the motor cycle he was riding was involved in a crash. 

In November 1940 Ron enlisted in the ACMF (Private; Service No:W8765) and was attached to 16th Battalion VDC when he transferred to the AIF in November 1941. In 1940 he stated he was Unemployed and in 1941 he stated he was a Milk Carter. Ron served (Private; Service No:WX17732) with 10 Armed Regiment and Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot (BIPOD) and was in the Middle East from August 1942 to March 1943. He was Discharged in January 1945.

In 1944 Ron married Joan Elizabeth (b1924) in Perth, WA. Ron worked as a Surveyor's Assistant and died in 1974. Joan died in 1978.

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