British War Medal (2. LIEUT. H. R. M. RONALDSON); Victory Medal (2. LIEUT. H.R.M. RONALDSON); Defence Medal; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, H.A.C. G.V.R. (61 GNR: H. R. M. RONALDSON. H.A.C.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, GVIR clasp Long Service, 1944
Hugh Robertson Meyer Ronaldson was born in Sydenham, Kent on 15 June 1881, the youngest of thirteen children born to Thomas Ronaldson, a prominent shipowner and broker, and his wife Marion. The young Ronaldson was admitted to the Honourable Artillery Company on 25 May 1901 when he was nineteen years old and served in 'A' Battery. Census records reveal Ronaldson to be working as a clerk in the stock exchange in 1911 and living with two of his elder brothers, who were working as a tea merchant and a commission agent.
He was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in July 1913 as a Gunner with the H.A.C., becoming one of only 99 such awards to the H.A.C. from 1909 through to the end of 1914. The following year in January 1914, he was transferred to the Reserve Company. On 3 August 1914 he was transferred from the Reserve Company back to 'A' Battery with whom he spent the first few years of the war. On 8 August he wed Daisy Blanche Newton at St. Mark's Church in Surbiton, Surrey and they thereafter lived at Sunnycroft in Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire - this was to be his primary address for the rest of his life.
On 29 September 1916 Ronaldson was transferred to the Reserve Officers' School at St. John's Wood, and was discharged to a commission with the 32nd Division of the Royal Field Artillery. Advanced Lieutenant in 1917, he disembarked at France on 7 May 1917. He was reportedly gassed once during his service overseas. He was not listed as a member of the H.A.C. after the close of the war.
Ronaldson applied for his WWI medals on 23 February 1921 and returned home to Sunnycroft. Post-war he continued his career as a member of the stock exchange, and according to the 1939 Register Ronaldson was a Stock Exchange member and with the Berkshire Special Constabulary. He continued this Constabulary work during the Second World War, earning a Long Service 1944 clasp to his Special Constabulary medal.
Ronaldson passed away on 4 May 1971 at the age of 89. He was interred at St. Michael and All Angels Churchyard in Sunninghill.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with both hard copy research and a CD.
