Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ronald Ashton Nock was born on the 23rd December 1894 at Eudunda, South Australia to parents William James Nock and Annie (nee Ashton) Nock. He was the youngest of 6 children, he had one brother, David, and four sisters, although two had passed away before he was born leaving Rosalie and Irene.

In 1896 the family moved to Adelaide, Ronald attended Prince Alfred College where his father had also attended. After completing school Ronald was employed as a clerk and by 1913 was serving with the Australian 22nd Light Horse. He enlisted on the 19th August 1914 at Morphettville, South Australia, only weeks after the declaration of war, and joined the 10th Battalion, B Company. At the time he was single listing his parents as his NOK and was living at High Street, Glenelg. He was described as being 5'7" with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.

Ronald and his unit embarked from Adelaide on board the ship A11 Ascanius on the 20th October 1914. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia they proceeded to Egypt arriving in early December 1914. Ronald held the rank of private in the 10th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Australian Pay Corps. The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on the 25th April 1915 and so was the first ashore at around 4.30am.

On the 9th May, while fighting at Gallipoli, Ronald became ill with Tonsillitis and was evacuated to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. In June, while convalescing he developed Lumbago (lower back pain). He continued to have problems with his back and remained in Egypt until March 1916 when he embarked from Alexandria and disembarked at Marseilles, France, on the 3rd April 1916 to rejoin his battalion. Ronald remained with the 10th Battalion in France but continued to suffer ill health resulting in several admissions to hospital in France during 1916-17.

On the 12th August 1917 while based at the 1st Australian Disivional Base Depot, Havre France, Ronald was appointed to the rank of Corporal and then acting Sergeant. He was granted leave and on the 8th September 1917 he travelled to England but while on leave he was admitted to hospital, the 1st ADH Bulford on the 19th September. He was initially suspected of having VD but this was misdiagnosed and was actually suffering from Septic Sores. He reverted to ranks on admission to hospital. After discharge from hospital on the 30th November Ronald remained in London and was attached to the No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny.

On the 1st March 1918 he was promoted to 2nd Corporal for a month reverting to the rank of private on ceasing duty with the Australian Army Pay Company. Ronald remained with the 10th Battalion and was attached to the No 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, transferring to the Australian Army Pay Company in May and was again promoted to the rank of Corporal on the 1st June. On the 15th October he was appointed acting Sergeant. On the 20th October 1918 Ronald departed England on board the ship HMAT A30 Borda arriving in Australia on the 16th December. He was discharged from the AIF on the 24th February 1919.

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

On returning to Adelaide he married Lillian Eileen Florence Solomon on the 12th January 1921 at the Methodist Church, Pirie Street, Adelaide. They had a daughter, Lorene Janet, born at Glenelg on the 6th January 1927.

In 1934, when Ronald's father died the family were living in Tailem Bend, Ronald was employed as a Clerk with the South Australian Railways. By 1944 the family were living at 8 Sixth Avenue, Helmsdale, Glenelg and in 1967 they had moved to the nearby suburb of Somerton, living at 1 Yarrum Grove.

Ronald enlisted in WW2, service no. S66221.

Ronald Nock died on the 6th August 1978.