THE VILLAGERS OF COLLINGHAM AND LINTON WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO

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This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham and Linton who served during World War 2.
Oldroyd, Rona Hilary L
(1922-?)
 
Full World War 2 medal rolls are not yet available. Where medal ribbons shown, those are the awards we believe would have been awarded, taken from information on the service records or surviving medal cards. Where no ribbons are shown we do not have any information on medal entitlement. We apologise if there are errors in the awards shown.

Rank and Unit at End of World War Two

Rank

Service Number W/234389

Service Army

Battalion

Regiment Auxilliary Territorial Service (ATS) or WRAC

Biography

Family background

Rona Hilary Leslie Oldroyd was born on the 9th May 1922, the daughter of Charles Herbert Oldroyd and his wife, Geraldine Victoria Louise Oldroyd. Charles was from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, and at the 1921 census was aged 38 and was employed as a woollen manufacturer's cashier for G.H. Hinchliffe Ltd, woollen manufacturers at 41 Park Place in Leeds. Geraldine had been born in Hull. Rona had one older sister, Janet Mary Leslie Oldroyd born in Garforth in 1917.

The family remained living at The Villas, Garforth until around 1933 when they moved to Towerhurst, on Langwith Avenue, Collingham. Rona would have been 12 years old when they moved to Collingham. At the 1939 National Registration, the whole family is registered at Towerhurst. While Charles is then described as a woollen worsted manufacturer's agent, Rona is described as a student. Charles was also busy supporting the war effort as a Special Police Constable.

Service record

In 1939, Rona would have been aged 17 and at the start of the war would not have had to serve. However in December 1941, the passing of the second National Service Act widened the scope of conscription to all unmarried women and all childless widows between the ages of 20 and 30. Thus at the end of 1941 Rona would have been expected to be conscripted or to volunteer.

We do not know exactly when Rona joined the services, but she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the women's army) with the service number W/234389. We have no further details of her wartime service yet so do not know where and when she served and what her exact role was.

After the war

After the war Rona returned to civilian life in Collingham, marrying Kenneth G. Needham in 1947, and continuing to live at Towerhurst with her parents until 1950 when Rona and Kenneth moved to The Cottage, Thorner Lane, Scarcroft.

Biography last updated 08 July 2026 15:30:22.

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info