Ralph Honner
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| Ralph Honner | |
|---|---|
| 17 August 1904 - 15 May 1994 | |
| Nickname | Jump |
| Place of birth | Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia |
| Place of death | Sydney, Australia |
| Allegiance | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1924 - 1927 1936 - 1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | 39th Battalion 2/14th Battalion |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Military Cross |
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Hyacinth Honner DSO, MC (17 August 1904 - 15 May 1994) was a distinguished Australian soldier during the Second World War, particually notable for his leadership during the Kokoda Trail Campaign.
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[edit] Early Life
Ralph Hyacinth Honner was born in Fremantle, Western Australia on 17 August 1904. He served in the army from 1924 to 1927, obtaining the rank of Sergeant.
In 1934 Honner married Marjory Bennett, and joined the militia in 1936.
[edit] World War II
Honner enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 13 October 1939, and given command of C Company of the 2/11 Battalion with the rank of Captain.
Honner and his battalion sailed for the Middle East in April of 1940, arriving the following month. Honner's company then procceded to fight in the battles at Palestine, Bardia, Tobruk, and Derna before being sent to Greece.
In Greece, Honner led his men through a series of fighting withdrawals before superior German forces. They were evacuated to Crete where the fighting at Retimo took a heavy toll on the battalion. Honner escaped to Alexandria, was promoted to Major, awarded the Military Cross for his work in Greece, and began to rebuild C Company around a nucleus of veterans.
Honner returned to Australia in May of 1942, where he was briefly reunited with his wife before being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, placed in command of the 39th Battalion, and sent to Papua to combat the Japanese forces on the Kokoda Trail. Honner has instructed to holt the Japanese advance at Isurava. Upon taking up his new command Honner was confronted by a group of soldiers already exhausted from difficult fighting in the most inhospitable of conditions, many suffering tropical diseases, and facing a large enemy force while waiting for reinforcement.
Honner then conducted a defence and fighting withdrawal back along the trail, turning the tide against the Japanese. He then led his battalion to contribute in the victory at Gona. For his role there Honner was awarded the Distinguished Service Order before seeing his battalion disbanded in July 1943.
Honner then took command of the 2/14th Battalion, leading them early in the campaign in the Ramu-Markham Valley before being seriously wounded by a gunshot to his hip; ending his combat career.
Honner was then posted as General Staff Officer Grade 1 Directorate of Military Training at Land Headquarters in Melbourne, before taking his discharge in 1945.
[edit] Later Life
Honner then went on to chair the War Pensions Assessment Appeal Tribunal, a position he held until 1968. Having moved to Sydney in 1949, Honner served as President of the New South Wales United Nations Association between 1955 and 1957. He also served as President of the New South Wales Branch of the Liberal Party from 1961 until 1963.
Honner retired in 1968, becoming ambassador to Ireland.
Ralph Honner died in Sydney on the 15 May 1994, aged 89 years.
