Ronald Robert Dixon MM (1921 - 2020)

Born 9 Jul 1921 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Marjorie Agnes (Wills) Dixon — married 1946 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Ronald Robert Dixon MM was born on 9th July 1921 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was the fourth son of Ernest Dixon and Violet Graham. The family lived at 40 Grantham Street, Carlton, in Sydney's St George district.

Ronald Dixon MM is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1940-1945
2/5th Australian Field Regiment

On 28th May 1940, Ronald enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for service overseas during the Second World War. He put his birthdate up two years to 9th July 1919 as he was still nineteen. Following basic training, he was posted to the 2/5th Field Regiment, Australian Artillery. ^[1] With the regiment, Ronald served in the highly successful Jan-Feb 1941 campaign in North Africa and then garrisoned Egypt (most of the division had been despatched to the futile Greece-Crete campaign), before taking part in the Syria–Lebanon campaign. Brought back to Australia in early 1942 in response to Japan's entry into the war, the regiment subsequently fought two significant battles in New Guinea in 1942-43 at Milne Bay and Buna before undertaking garrison duties around Port Moresby until early 1944. The regiment's final campaign came late in the war when it was committed to the Borneo campaign, taking part landing at Balikpapan. ^[2] Following cessation of hostilities, Ronald was demobilised on 30th November 1945, with the junior non-commissioned rank of Bombardier.

Ronald was awarded the Military Medal for 'great courage and coolness at Syria 9 to 22 June 1941'; gazetted in London 30th December 1941 (page 7338, position 27). ^[3] During the period, as a forward observer's signaler, Ron was on duty at the observation post and 'displayed the utmost coolness under machine-gun and shell-fire'. ^[4] He may have been driven in his gallantry as a response to his eldest brother, Reg, recently becoming a prisoner-of-war of the Germans. ^[5] When the medal was ready for presentation in Australia in May 1945, Ronald requested that it be forwarded to his mother at Carlton; as he was then engaged at Borneo. ^[6] Following the war, for his service and campaigns, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945. ^[7]

Ronald and Marge celebrated 72 years of marriage in 2018

Putting the war behind him, Ronald married Marge Wills on 5th January 1946 at Waverley, New South Wales. ^[8] They had two sons and a daughter.

Ronald passed away, aged 99 years, in late 2020.

Sources

1. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX18304 Bombardier Ronald Robert Dixon; accessed 7 Dec 2020
2. ↑ Wikipedia: 2/5th Field Regiment; accessed 7 Dec 2020
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: NX18304 Gunner Ronald Robert Dixon, Military Medal; accessed 7 Dec 2020
4. ↑ O'Brien, John W. Guns and Gunners: the story of the 2/5th Field Regiment RAA
5. ↑ opinion of Ken Evans
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: NX18304 Gunner Ronald Robert Dixon, Military Medal; accessed 7 Dec 2020
7. ↑ ascertained from medal qualifications issued by Department of Veterans' Affairs
8. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #7614/1946