BONE, Ronald Merton

Ronald Merton Bone was probably an identical twin to Kenric Bone: both 5' 2 1/2" in height, with fair complexions, grey eyes and blond hair. They were ths sons of George and Ada Bone, of 'Cotswold', 40 Berry St., East Melbourne, and brothers to Chandos,Daisy and Iris (deceased). Both registered their employment as "Student Surveyors". They enlisted on the same day, 3 January, 1918, only thirteen days after their eighteenth birthday. As they were under the age of nineteen, they had to provide both an Extract of Birth and a permission form signed by both parents. They trained together with the 1st Battalion at Broadmeadows, embarked for England on the same day, 31 August, 1918, and on arrival, both were sent to the 14th Battalion at Codford. However, they seem to have been discharged at different dates, though both were given two weeks pre- embarkation leave and both returned home on the ex-German ship ' Konigin Luise'. Ronald died, aged 56, at the Heidelberg Military Hospital on 8 May, 1956, four years later than Kenric. He was cremated at Fawkner Memorial Park and is remembered in Garden of Remembrance 2, Section 8, Compartment 2, Niche 52.