Maurice James Ronan

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1896
Place of Birth	Patersen, New South Wales
Death	14 Mar 1917
Place of Death	Ploegsteert, Belgium
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 5 months
Description	5'5¼" (1.66m) tall; weight 130 lbs (59.0kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr James Thomas Ronan
Military Information
Reg Number	421
Date of Enlistment	18 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, B Company / 11th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 - 21 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic
Fate	Killed in Action 14 Mar 1917 at Ploegsteert, Belgium
Monument	Jarrahdale War Memorial Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Along with his older brother Bert (Hubert Charles) Maurice joined the unit on 28 Jan 1916, ten days after they entered Blackboy Hill camp. They trained with them in Australia, travelled with them to England, and on arrival undertook training to prepare themselves for trench warfare in France and Belgium.

From Southampton, England they proceeded overseas to France on 25 Nov 1916. Maurice remained with his unit until his untimely death said to have occurred on 14 Mar 1917. The Battalion's War Diary contains no reference to any action that may have led to Maurice being killed on that day, but overnight 13-14 Mar 1917, B Company had provided two platoons out of six that participated, to a large raiding force that attempted to raid the German front lines just before midnight. German retaliation had been quick, with artillery pounding the Australian positions and no man's land. We might assume that this was how Maurice was killed.

On his death, his mother received a pension of 40/- per fortnight from 26 May 1917 and on the death of his brother Herbert, the pension was increased to 80/- per fortnight.

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  Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery courtesy CWGC
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

RONAN. On March 14, killed in action, somewhere in France, Private Maurice J.Ronan, dearly beloved second son of James and Ellen Ronan, Jarrahdale, and beloved brother of Rene, Rose, Dorry, and Frank, also Bert now on active service, aged 20 years and 7 months.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial