Heritage Lodge Aged Care Murwillumbah resident and WWII veteran Ronald Spence honoured ahead of Anzac Day

In 1941, a strapping 18-year-old Sydney Chevrolet clerk swapped his rolodex for a rifle before being shipped off to the “grim” Papua New Guinea jungle. See how he was honoured this Anzac Day.

At the twilight age of 101, World War II veteran Ron Spence says he is a “little too old” for people to be making such a fuss over him – but his time served for his country was no small feat.

The longtime Murwillumbah resident, who lives at McKenzie Aged Care’s Heritage Lodge, was on Wednesday awarded a Commemorative Medal by his local RSL ahead of this year’s Anzac Day.

In the aftermath of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour, Mr Spence was conscripted to join the Australian Army, leaving behind his junior clerk job in Sydney, where he worked for the metropolitan distributor of Chevrolet.

Ronald Spence, 101, at McKenzie Aged Care’s Heritage Lodge at Murwillumbah ahead of Anzac Day. Picture: Sam Stolz

In effect, the wide-eyed 18-year-old swapped a rolodex for a rifle, and was off to war.

Mr Spence’s superiors recognised his adeptness at morse code, quickly rising the ranks and becoming known as Sig (signalman) Spence among his comrades.

For his efforts, he was paid the shilling equivalent of 0.60 cents per day.

After training, Mr Spence was deployed for active service by steamboat to the sticky, remote and all together alien jungle of Papua New Guinea.

Ronald Spence (top row, second from left) during his service. Picture: Supplied.

He described PNG as a “grim” place, with a graveyard of sunken ally ships littering the coves of Port Moresby.

Mr Spence and his mates battled through dense, humid jungles and with it – malaria.

The mosquitoes were so relentless that one comrade threatened to “shoot himself in the head”,” he said.

At the commemoration ceremony on Wednesday – where Murwillumbah RSL’s Derek Sims awarded Mr Spence the medal – the veteran said he “didn’t understand what all the fuss was about”, despite having been awarded a full suite of honours throughout his military career.

“I just thought they’d give me the medal in my room and we could be done with it. I’m a little too old to be fussed over,” he said.

Ronald Spence and his wife during Anzac Day celebrations, 2000. Picture: Supplied.

But judging by the turnout, the fuss was warranted. A bustling crowd of Mr Spence’s family and friends from the aged care gathered in the main hall to honour his service.

When asked what the Anzac spirit means to him, Mr Spence said it was all about mateship – “though sadly most of my friends have died”.

“I’m pleased to see that the Anzac Day tradition is still going strong. It’s fitting that all soldiers who have fought in wars be honoured,” he said.

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