Ron Beswick senior part 1

 

As I was growing up my father Ronald Beswick was also known as Popeye. I was told by one of his mates that he got the name when they were constructing the Wangi power station where there was always a fight. He'd been a Stable Hand, Soldier, Painter and Docker, Dogman, Ship's Cook, a Queensland cattle station hand, and after he died I learned he was once a Waiter in a Restaurant. This was before I came into the world in 1960 where my birth certificate states he was a Rigger. I presume he worked his way up from being a Dogman to a Rigger!

He was a character and often told stories, read the paper, and he'd study the form guide. He had run a SP Book back in the days when all profit went on the bar. The one who lost, drank the most and would have a hang over the next day for his misery. I guess wasn't really a Capitalist!

I don't recall him ever using the word hate. I do recall he'd describe someone as a queer bastard and telling a Mormon promoting religion to get of his property. He told me that he had issues with Mr Tudehope who run the Marine Cooks union for over 50 years until 1963. Dad described him as a Right winger and Anti Communist. I asked him once what did he think of Thomas Blamey, and he said, “Brothel Owner.” He fell out with Swansea RSL hierarchy before he died and did not want them to contribute to his funeral.

His life began on the 30th September 1923 or 1924 in Wonthaggi Victoria. His father migrated from Manchester and worked in the local State Coal Mine. His mother was born in South Melbourne and when he was very young his parents separated. Florence Beswick left Wonthaggi with her baby Lois and later gave birth to June.

Dad grew up in Mathew street Wonthaggi with his Father Jonathan, an older and younger sister. When he was about 6 years of age Wall street had crashed and economically things weren't looking good around the planet. This was the Great Depression!

Aunty Jean was Dad's older sister and I have no doubt Dad was a handful. Irene was his younger sister and she was to become good mates with my mother when they met. It was tough times before World War 2 and although my parents grew up in different countries, they did it tough!

He always spoke highly of his Father and barely a word about his mother. His father was a champion Gymnast, Tap Dancer and played Cricket. He was also to receive a medal for bravery because of his courage during a mine accident that happened in 1924. Although he was born in Manchester, Jonathan Beswick was known as Jock. I believe this pseudonym came about because of his jockey size!

I can't recall Dad talking much about his youth except for going to the Beach at Cape Patterson and collecting Pine cones that were used as fire starters. It was like he never went to School, although his army records state he had a Merritt certificate. His Grandfather was William Gray who was a bookmaker for John Wren and may have helped him get work as a stable hand.

When I was growing up Dad spoke a lot about the Queensland outback where he spent some time during the end of the war. He worked on Cattle Stations and became familiar with the country around Boulia, Charleville and the Hamilton Hotel that is now a ruins. This would have been when Churchill wanted to send the exhausted Australian troops to Burma which the Australian prime minister John Curtin vetoed.

He had me fascinated by a phenomenon know as Min Min Lights and he would often see them when camped in the outback. He rarely spoke about his involvement in the war but would occasionally make statements about it. An Army officer once walked into the Swansea RSL dressed immaculate in uniform. “In New Guinea we would have shot him.”

Mum would often talk about the war and I remember her once saying,“he belonged to a very famous regiment!” Dad was present and stopped her. “Enough!”

He joined the Army in 1941 and went to New Guinea on the Tarooma after being posted to the 39th Battalion. He spent time in Dromana Hospital with Dysentery and witnessed combat before his 18th birthday. After disembarking on the Katoomba in Townsville towards the end of the war he failed to muster and was discharged in November 1945.