Jumping into the Fire!
Divisional Officer Ronald Cobley GIFireE South Yorkshire Fire Brigade and Royal Signals
The Man Ronald Cobley was born on 27th April 1926 in Rotherham, Son of Arthur a Colliery Heavy Stone Worker and Jane nee Rotherham (sic). He was one of four children, Harold born 5th January 1921, Hilda 1931 and another unknown sibling.
By 1939 the family were living at 92 Canklow Road, Rotherham and Ronald aged 13 at school, at about this time, he joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps, later Air Training Corps and during World War II when he was 17 in 1943, enlisted into the Royal Air Force at Doncaster, with service Number 3043539 (from a block allocated in Doncaster in May 1943 to cadets when they came of age to stop them being ‘taken’ by other services).
However, when he reached 18 in April 1944, Ronald transferred into the Army, into the Royal Signals Airborne Division with service number 14859537, he undertook training at 65 Squadron 2 Coy 1st Operators Battalion until 1945. As the war drew to a close, the Divisional Signals were despatched to Norway and played a vital role in helping to organise the administrative functions for internal security, the return of the King Haakon VII and effective civilian government, where they remained until late August 1945. Upon their return to the UK, the unit was disbanded as the 1st Airborne Division ceased to exist.
Ronald was promoted to Corporal, then posted to Quetta in Northern India (now Pakistan) in February 1947, attached to the Signal Troop 159 British Parachute Light Regiment, to assist with partition and independence for India and Pakistan. In early 1947, 159 Regiment moved to Palestine to join 6th Airborne Division during the Israeli insurgency and Ronald served there from 3rd August until 6th December 1947, completing many parachute jumps. For his service he was awarded the War Medal 1939-45 and General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
By 1939 the family were living at 92 Canklow Road, Rotherham and Ronald aged 13 at school, at about this time, he joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps, later Air Training Corps and during World War II when he was 17 in 1943, enlisted into the Royal Air Force at Doncaster, with service Number 3043539 (from a block allocated in Doncaster in May 1943 to cadets when they came of age to stop them being ‘taken’ by other services).
However, when he reached 18 in April 1944, Ronald transferred into the Army, into the Royal Signals Airborne Division with service number 14859537, he undertook training at 65 Squadron 2 Coy 1st Operators Battalion until 1945. As the war drew to a close, the Divisional Signals were despatched to Norway and played a vital role in helping to organise the administrative functions for internal security, the return of the King Haakon VII and effective civilian government, where they remained until late August 1945. Upon their return to the UK, the unit was disbanded as the 1st Airborne Division ceased to exist.
Ronald was promoted to Corporal, then posted to Quetta in Northern India (now Pakistan) in February 1947, attached to the Signal Troop 159 British Parachute Light Regiment, to assist with partition and independence for India and Pakistan. In early 1947, 159 Regiment moved to Palestine to join 6th Airborne Division during the Israeli insurgency and Ronald served there from 3rd August until 6th December 1947, completing many parachute jumps. For his service he was awarded the War Medal 1939-45 and General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
During the first quarter of 1950 Ronald Married Mark Eskholme in Rotherham and they had two children
Lesley J born in 1952 and Stuart 1953. In about 1950 he joined the Rotherham Borough Fire Brigade and a long and distinguished career unfolded.
Ronald rose through the ranks, from Firefighter, Leading Firefighter to Sub-Officer and in February 1964 qualified for promotion to the rank of Station Officer and as an Instructor in the Breathing Apparatus Course at the London Fire Brigade Training School the same year. In June- July 1966 he attended a Sub Officers Course at the Fire Service College followed by a Special Fire Prevention Course in November. Promoted to Station Officer in 1967 he attended another fire Prevention Long Course in June – September 1968 and in 1970 a Junior Command Course.
Ronald was awarded his Fire Brigade Long Service Medal in about 1970 and promoted to Assistant Divisional Officer, attending a Staff Officers Course in June 1973. In 1974 following local government reorganisation, the Rotherham Borough fire Brigade was amalgamated into South Yorkshire Country Fire Brigade (Service) and Ronald promoted to Divisional Officer responsible for Communications and based at Sheffield, the same year he attended a Communications Officers’ Course in July- August 1974.
In 1976 he attended a Refresher Course at the Fire Service Staff College and in 1977 aged 51 awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. In August he attended a Radiation and Dangerous Substances Course followed in 1979 by a Command Course.
Ronald retired from the Fire Service in about 1982 aged 55 and lived with Mary at 162 Hungerhill Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham. He passed away on 22nd February 1984 aged just 57 of a heart attack and Mary died in November 1995 aged 71, both in Rotherham.
A sad and early passing of a man who had achieved so much within the Army and Fire Service.
Lesley J born in 1952 and Stuart 1953. In about 1950 he joined the Rotherham Borough Fire Brigade and a long and distinguished career unfolded.
Ronald rose through the ranks, from Firefighter, Leading Firefighter to Sub-Officer and in February 1964 qualified for promotion to the rank of Station Officer and as an Instructor in the Breathing Apparatus Course at the London Fire Brigade Training School the same year. In June- July 1966 he attended a Sub Officers Course at the Fire Service College followed by a Special Fire Prevention Course in November. Promoted to Station Officer in 1967 he attended another fire Prevention Long Course in June – September 1968 and in 1970 a Junior Command Course.
Ronald was awarded his Fire Brigade Long Service Medal in about 1970 and promoted to Assistant Divisional Officer, attending a Staff Officers Course in June 1973. In 1974 following local government reorganisation, the Rotherham Borough fire Brigade was amalgamated into South Yorkshire Country Fire Brigade (Service) and Ronald promoted to Divisional Officer responsible for Communications and based at Sheffield, the same year he attended a Communications Officers’ Course in July- August 1974.
In 1976 he attended a Refresher Course at the Fire Service Staff College and in 1977 aged 51 awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. In August he attended a Radiation and Dangerous Substances Course followed in 1979 by a Command Course.
Ronald retired from the Fire Service in about 1982 aged 55 and lived with Mary at 162 Hungerhill Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham. He passed away on 22nd February 1984 aged just 57 of a heart attack and Mary died in November 1995 aged 71, both in Rotherham.
A sad and early passing of a man who had achieved so much within the Army and Fire Service.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Ronald Cobley were acquired from The Medal Company on 2nd June 2021, having been watched for a time. They were of interest because of the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and Fire Brigade Long Service Medal combination and large archive of photographs documents included.
The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK coupled with the documents and Ronald’s death certificate, enabled his biography to be pieced together.
Looking in detail at his service and the pictures where Ronald is wearing a single row of medal ribbons, it seems unlikely he would have been awarded the 1939-45 and France and Germany Star, but possibly just the War Medal 1939-45, a fact confirmed by the MoD Medal Office.
As the group came with all the medals the two additional stars have been retained with the collection.
The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK coupled with the documents and Ronald’s death certificate, enabled his biography to be pieced together.
Looking in detail at his service and the pictures where Ronald is wearing a single row of medal ribbons, it seems unlikely he would have been awarded the 1939-45 and France and Germany Star, but possibly just the War Medal 1939-45, a fact confirmed by the MoD Medal Office.
As the group came with all the medals the two additional stars have been retained with the collection.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: CPL. R.COBLEY.R.SIGS.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: STN.OFFR. RONALD COBLEY.
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