People Australia

Ronald Berry Finlayson, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

RONALD BERRY FINLAYSON, son of Mr. Robert B. Finlayson and Mrs. C. Finlayson, of “Lightcliffe,” Wollongong, New South Wales, was born at the E. S. & A. Bank, at Wollongong, on 6th March, 1890. He was educated at the Public School, Wollongong, and Sydney Grammar School, and entered the service of the Bank of New South Wales, at Head Office on 11th June, 1908. On 9th March, 1912, he proceeded to Rockdale as assistant, and in January, 1913, entered the Inspector’s Department, at Head Office.

He enlisted on 29th October, 1915, and sailed from Australia as second-lieutenant in April, 1916. After a week in Egypt he proceeded to France and joined his unit at Fleurbaix.

After taking part in the Battle of Pozieres and other engagements on the Somme, he was transferred to the Ypres sector, and received his second star on 1 st September, 1916, at Hill 60. In the meantime he had been serving as intelligence and bombing officer to his unit, and it was while carrying out his duties in the latter capacity that he met his death on 5th November, 1916, during what has been described as “the most ghastly night that the 1st Battalion ever went through.”