Ronald Frederick Duncum was born in Granville, New South Wales on 23 December 1924, the son of Albert Cornelius Duncum and Lillian Elizabeth (nee Pilgrim).
He married Barbara Hope at the Methodist Church, New Town, Tasmania on 11 January 1958. Barbara was born on 17 July 1927 at Richmond, Tasmania, the daughter of Cornelius Hope and Gladys (nee Morey). Her father was a great-grandson of Thomas and Ann Stone.
Ronald was still single, working as an accountant and living at home in Granville when he enlisted at Merrylands, Sydney on 20 January 1943. In April 1943 he was transferred to Puckapunyal, Victoria for training.
In November 1944 he embarked on the “Duntroon” at Cairns with the 2/1 Field Company bound for Aitape in northern New Guinea. He returned to Sydney from Wewak on the “Amoora” in February 1946 and was discharged on 17 May 1946.
