NIBLETT, James
| Service Number: | VX51028 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | COLAC, VIC, 10 February 1919 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Irrewarra WW2 Honour Roll |
World War 2 Service
| 11 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51028, 2nd/6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51028, 2nd/6th Infantry Battalion |
Notes on the life of James 'Jim' Niblett
Jim served in the Middle East between June 1941 and August 1942. He was then posted to New Guinea twice – from October 1941 to September 1943 and then from December 1944 to June 1945.
During the second posting he was recommended for the Military Medal for “outstanding courage and initiative” on 29th – 30th March 1945 at Kilkuil and Gwanginin. Shortly after these heroic acts, he was seriously wounded in action on 16th April. He suffered a fractured left femur with sciatic nerve lesion.
Private Niblett was evacuated on the 30th of April to begin the long journey home, with many stops along the way. He arrived in Melbourne by ambulance train on 20th June 1945. Private Niblett subsequently lost his left leg.
He was discharged for the Army on 17th July 1946 and on discharge was deemed to be 100% disabled. Despite his disability Jim ran a dairy farm at South Purrumbete [source: Colac Family History].
Submitted 30 July 2025 by Ian Fox
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