Ronald Allen Heffernan MACDONALD DSM

Ronald Allen Heffernan MACDONALD DSM Update Details

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MACDONALD, Ronald Allen Heffernan

Service Number:	20954
Enlisted:	30 October 1935, Rated Ordinary Seaman 14 March 1936. Engagement 12 years.
Last Rank:	Petty Officer Stoker
Last Unit:	HMAS Vampire I
Born:	Footscray, Victoria, 14 March 1918
Home Town:	Williamstown, Hobsons Bay, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Sailor, R.A.N.
Died:	Died of wounds received in action, Hospital Ship VITA, 13 April 1942, aged 24 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea. Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 72, Column 3., Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Non Warlike Service

30 Oct 1935:	Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, 20954, HMAS Cerberus (Shore), Rated Ordinary Seaman 14 March 1936. Engagement 12 years.

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Petty Officer, 20954
26 Dec 1940:	Honoured Distinguished Service Medal, Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre, For Courage, enterprise & devotion to duty - H.M.A.S. Stuart. Promulgated London Gazette 14/1/1941.
1 Oct 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer Stoker, HMAS Vampire I
9 Apr 1942:	Wounded Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer Stoker, 20954, HMAS Vampire I, RAN Operations - 'SW Pacific / Indian Ocean 1941-43', Wounded during the sinking of H.M.A.S Vampire, rescued by Hospital Ship VITA.
13 Apr 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer Stoker, 20954, HMAS Vampire I, RAN Operations - 'SW Pacific / Indian Ocean 1941-43'

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Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts

Plucky Petty Officer Dies On HMAS Vampire

For outstanding devotion to duty when in HMAS Stuart, Petty Officer Ronald A. H. MacDonald was awarded the DSM.

That was in the early days of the war, and since then Petty Officer MacDonatd served in other units of the Australian Navy. Among these was HMAS Vampire, and during the week when news came to hand of the loss of this ship, MacDonald was among the casualties: "Died of wounds."

Only 24, Ronald MacDonald, had served 7 years in the Royal Australian Navy. When war broke out he left Australia immediately in H.M.A.S. Stuart and for some time was engaged in the Mediterranean.

All Australia was thrilled when news came to hand that this sturdy old destroyer of the R.A.N. had captured an enemy submarine and brought it to a British base. At the time P.O. MacDonald was serving as submarine detector and for his services during that action, when he remained on duty continually for 2 days, he was awarded his decoration, which was presented to him by Admiral Cunningham.

When on leave in Australia last year, he was married in Victoria and his widow now resides in Surrey-road, Rivervale. - The Mirror (Perth), 25 April 1942 (nla.gov.au)

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