Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Robert Mudge
James Robert (Bill/Jim) was born on 13 August 1921 at Stuart St, Mullumbimby, Byron Shire. He was baptised at St. John’s Mullumbimby by Fr. Wilham or Welham on 21 August 1921.

Some extant letters written by Bill when he was 14 and 16 years old show that he was staying at Camden Park Estate in 1935, was about to leave Glenreagh Public School on 27 September 1935, and that he worked as a Junior Grocer and messenger  between  February 1936 and July 1937 at the grocery store, 24 Victoria St, Lewisham. In fact, his employment history sheet (WW II) shows that he worked at his mother’s grocery business 1933-1937 at that address. Army records show that Bill completed his Qualifying Certificate at Christian Brothers, Lewisham around 1936, and that his formal schooling had taken place there and at other locations since 1929. He then studied at a Technical College in the City where he learned sign writing and ticket writing. At the time of his enlistment in WW II, he describes himself as a machinist and a process worker. Throughout his life, Bill had always been a keen sportsman, his involvement including rugby league, swimming, tennis, and squash.

During World War II, James Robert Mudge served in the Australian Military (Imperial) Forces as a soldier from 30 December 1941 to 8 July 1946. He served in the 2/3 Australian Machine Gun Battalion, both as a machine gunner and as a signaller, all as part of 6th Division. He was stationed in Australia (Cairns,

Townsville, Cowra), South West Pacific Area, Dutch New Guinea (Merauke),

New Guinea (Aitape and Wewak) and on the island of Morotai, north west of New Guinea. On 20 September, he was accidently wounded by an exploding tank grenade in Townsville. This left a permanent scar and he was also affected  by a psoriasis skin condition stemming from his time in the Islands. Following his service, he was awarded the 1939/45 Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal, and the Australia Service Medal.

After the war, Bill worked at a number of places including the RAN Newington Armament Depot in the Silverwater area, where he was checking bombs to see if they were functional. He also worked at some stage at a glass factory on South Dowling Street, City that produced jars, milk bottles, etc.

Bill worked at Lew Fitch and Sons, Smith St, Summer Hill between 1947 and

1954. On 4th September 1951, he received his Certificate of Qualification as

‘Classification of BodyMaker (1st Class)’ from the Commonwealth of Australia, Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme. He started his own motor body building business in Vaughan St, Lidcombe in February 1955/6, when he bought an old blacksmith’s shop and slowly began to build his own plant and buy his own equipment. He sustained this business for 25 years until his death in 1980. During that time he was a member of the Motor Trader’s Association for 22 years.

On 27 October 1956, James Robert Mudge married Veronica Jane Phelps (b. 29 December 1925) at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. During their married life, they lived briefly at Cronulla, then later with their growing family at, in turn, Lidcombe, Northmead, Castle Hill and Kenthurst. Bill and Veronica had a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, in order— Robert and Peter (twins), John, Mary Jane, Geoffrey, Louise, Andrew, and Denise (deceased). James Robert Mudge died on 4 August 1980 aged 58, and is buried at Castlebrook Lawn Cemetery, Rouse Hill, beside his daughter Denise Ellen Mudge.

Biography of James Robert Mudge (updated 28 Jan 2026)

Contributed by Peter Mudge; based on his earlier publication: Peter James Philip Mudge (2002), A History of the Mudge Family, 1300 to the Present (Baulkham Hills, NSW: Privately published, November 2002); Section E, pages 1-29.

James Robert (Bill/Jim) Mudge was born on 13 August 1921 at Stuart St, Mullumbimby, Byron Shire. He was baptised at St. John’s Mullumbimby by Fr. Wilham or Welham on 21 August 1921.

Some extant letters written by Bill when he was 14 and 16 years old show that he was staying at Camden Park Estate in 1935, was about to leave Glenreagh Public School on 27 September 1935, and that he worked as a Junior Grocer and messenger  between  February 1936 and July 1937 at the grocery store, 24 Victoria St, Lewisham. In fact, his employment history sheet (WW II) shows that he worked at his mother’s grocery business 1933-1937 at that address. Army records show that Bill completed his Qualifying Certificate at Christian Brothers, Lewisham around 1936, and that his formal schooling had taken place there and at other locations since 1929. He then studied at a Technical College in the City where he learned sign writing and ticket writing. At the time of his enlistment in WW II, he describes himself as a machinist and a process worker. Throughout his life, Bill had always been a keen sportsman, his involvement including rugby league, swimming, tennis, and squash.

During World War II, James Robert Mudge served in the Australian Military (Imperial) Forces as a soldier from 30 December 1941 to 8 July 1946. He served in the 2/3 Australian Machine Gun Battalion, both as a machine gunner and as a signaller, all as part of 6th Division. He was stationed in Australia (Cairns, Townsville, Cowra), South West Pacific Area, Dutch New Guinea (Merauke), New Guinea (Aitape and Wewak) and on the island of Morotai, north west of New Guinea. On 20 September, he was accidently wounded by an exploding tank grenade in Townsville. This left a permanent scar and he was also affected  by a psoriasis skin condition stemming from his time in the Islands. Following his service, he was awarded the 1939/45 Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal, and the Australia Service Medal.

After the war, Bill worked at a number of places including the RAN Newington Armament Depot in the Silverwater area, where he was checking bombs to see if they were functional. He also worked at some stage at a glass factory on South Dowling Street, City that produced jars, milk bottles, etc.

Bill worked at Lew Fitch and Sons, Smith St, Summer Hill between 1947 and

1954. On 4th September 1951, he received his Certificate of Qualification as ‘Classification of BodyMaker (1st Class)’ from the Commonwealth of Australia, Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme. He started his own motor body building business in Vaughan St, Lidcombe in February 1955/6, when he bought an old blacksmith’s shop and slowly began to build his own plant and buy his own equipment. He sustained this business for 25 years until his death in 1980. During that time he was a member of the Motor Trader’s Association for 22 years.

On 27 October 1956, James Robert Mudge married Veronica Jane Phelps (b. 29 December 1925) at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. During their married life, they lived briefly at Cronulla, then later with their growing family at, in turn, Lidcombe, Northmead, Castle Hill and Kenthurst. Bill and Veronica had a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, in order— Robert and Peter (twins), John, Mary Jane, Geoffrey, Andrew, Louise, and Denise (deceased). James Robert Mudge died on 4 August 1980 aged 58, and is buried at Castlebrook Lawn Cemetery, Rouse Hill, beside his daughter Denise Ellen Mudge.