Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Vincent Herman JACOBI (Corporal)
 
Vincent was born on April 14, 1915, in Murray Bridge the third child of William Herman JACOBI and Evaline Annie JACOBI. A young brother was born two years later.
 
The family was attempting to establish a farm at Culburra near Tintinara. The effort to make this successful were thwarted by rabbit plagues and drought. In addition, it was not understood that this land would only be productive with the application of trace elements. This knowledge only became available several years later.
 
Eventually the farming attempt was deemed unsustainable and William, Evaline, Cecil Vincent and Clifford moved to Riverton in the mid north.
 
William worked as a labourer and the children attended Riverton Primary and High Schools unto each completed Intermediate. He completed ‘History, Geography, Chemistry and Mathematics 1 to Intermediate standard’.
 
Vincent then worked as a mill hand at the local flour mill owned by Laurie Ellis, Younger brother Clifford joined the SA Railways as a ‘Youth Useful’ before becoming a station attendant and later a station master. Cecil became s cabinet maker and worked to the Islington Carriage works. Evaline married, was widowed and the later married Clarrie Brooks, a local farmer.
 
With outbreak of WW II Vincent applied to join the armed forces specifically to the RAF as a mechanic in March 1940. He was 25 years old.
 
A reference written date Feb 7, 1940, by Laurie Ellis supported his application. Laurie described Vincent as performing his duties ‘well and reliably’. He also highlighted his aptitude with diesel engines, a point detailed on his application. He has also undertaken courses in oxy welding and a correspondence course in Diesel Engines through the International Correspondence School.
 
While ‘lacking knowledge or precision instruments’ he as accepted as a Trainee Mechanic and signed the Enlistment agreement on March 26, 1940. He reported to the recruitment office on April 15, 1940 and transferred to Laverton he same night “with a suitcase” and the promise of a payment of 5 shillings per day.
 
At Laverton he undertook a range of programs including both combat and technical training before he moved to England via Canada on June 12th, 1941.
 
His time in England involved several moves and change of squadrons. Briefly this was as follows:
June 1941-August 1941          Squad 452
August 41-November 1942    Squad 455 including August 1942- October 1942 in Russia
December 1942- March 1943 7EFTS in Gloucester, Elementary Flying Training School
April 1943-February 1945      461 SM Pembroke Dock
February 1945-May 1945       11 PD RC Personnel Despatch and Collection, Brighton
 
Returned to Australia on 23rd May, 1945
 
Of particular interest is his brief assignment in Russia. The purpose of this was to provide training support for the Russian military on flying and maintaining Hampden bombers.
 
‘In September, the squadron temporarily relocated from Leuchars in Scotland to Vaenga in Russia to protect a Murmansk-bound merchant convoy from attack by German surface vessels. 455 Squadron flew only one mission from Vaenga and returned to Britain by sea in late October, having handed its Hampdens over to the Russians.’
 
‘Vincent would have departed for Russia aboard USS Tuscaloosa soon after 7 Aug 1942 to Russia in a base at Severomorsk (was Vaenga). At the end of the mission they left that battle area on 18 October 1942 - via Iceland and Scapa Flow – and was probably on leave for 2 weeks after that.’
 
Vincent’s discharge papers show he intended vocation was to become a linesman with the PMG.  (The PMG split in 1975 to become Australia Post and Telecom.)
 
He worked for the PMG in Whyalla and later in Gawler. He continued to play cricket in Whyalla and Table tennis.
 
On return to Australia via Canada, a young woman he had met in Scotland came out to visit with a view to a possible marriage. However, she felt she would not be able to migrate happily and returned home.
 
While living in Gawler, Vincent was diagnosed with cancer and despite undergoing radiation therapy died in 1958 aged just 43. He is buried in the Riverton Cemetery near his parents.