Ronald Henry Yerbury (abt. 1920 - 1942)

Born about 9 Jun 1920 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 22 in At Sea

Biography

Ronald Yerbury was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Ronald Yerbury died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Ronald Henry Yerbury was born in 1920 in Craig Fawr near Swansea, Wales, the son of Edgar Charles Yerbury and Catherine Annie, nee Green.^[1]

He migrated to Sydney, Australia, departing London on 11 May 1939 on the "Strathaird". His occupation at the time was tinplater.^[2]

When he enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service on 03 Dec 1940 at Paddington, NSW as a Private (NX66145) he lied about his age, raising it by a year, probably to avoid needing parental approval. At the time he enlisted he was single, a labourer living at Kenthurst, NSW. He had fair hair and blue eyes. His next of kin was his father living at Craig Fawn in Wales.

After training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 10 May 1941.

He embarked on HMAT "Zealandia" on 12 Jul 1941 for Kavieng, New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 29 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy who escaped overland to Kaut on the south coast and boarded the "Induna Star" on 29 Jan 1942 before making their way along the coast of New Ireland heading to Rabaul. When they learned that Rabaul had fallen and hearing that the Japanese had landed to the east of them (false) the ship sailed south. It was spotted by a Japanese aircraft, bombed and taken under tow by a Japanese destroyer on 02 Feb 1942 and entered Rabaul on 03 Feb 1942 where he became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Research Notes

Ronald's birth was registered Sep Quarter 1920.

Family details - siblings - 1911 Hilda (S Qtr, Volume 11A Page 2331); 1917 Phyllis May (J Qtr, Volume 11A Page 1898. d: 1918 M Qtr, Volume 11A Page 1101); 1919 Edgar Samuel (M Qtr, Volume 11A Page 1706); 1920 Ronald H (S Qtr, Volume 11A, Page 2262); 1922 Arthur H F (S Qtr, Volume 11A, Page 1980); 1930 Cyril John (J Qtr, Volume 11A, Page 1495)

Mother's last name Green.
Name: GREEN, CATHERINE ANNIE Mother's Maiden Surname: FRAPWELL
GRO Reference: 1887 J Quarter in PONTYPRIDD Volume 11A Page 419

Edgar Charles and Catherine Annie married March Quarter1909 Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales (Volume 11A, Page 839)

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N9Q-MRW : 1 October 2014), Ronald H Yerbury, 1920; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ Findmypast.co.uk - Record set Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960; Category Travel & migration; Subcategory Passenger Lists; Collections from Great Britain, England, Australasia

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - YERBURY RONALD HENRY : Service Number - NX66145 : Date of birth - 09 Jun 1919 : Place of birth - WALES : Place of enlistment - PADDINGTON NSW : Next of Kin - YERBURY EDGAR - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4628532

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1692190

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2616518/yerbury,-ronald-henry/