SIMMS, Shirley Vina
| Service Number: | SF113211 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1943, Wayville, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Cowell, South Australia, 15 November 1922 |
| Home Town: | Cowell, Franklin Harbour, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Cowell |
| Occupation: | Administrative officer |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 15 Jul 1943: | Involvement Private, SF113211 | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 1943: | Enlisted Wayville, SA | |
| 15 Jul 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SF113211 | |
| 5 Sep 1944: | Discharged |
Help us honour Shirley Vina Simms's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Shirley Vina Simms Service Number 113211
Shirley was born in Cowell on 15/11/1922
Her mother and father were Ethel (Olive) and William (Horace) Clark who were both born at Moonta. In Cowell her father was the manager of the three reservoirs that supplied Cowell and Cleve with water. It was a thrill to go out after a rain and see the reservoirs filling up, especially as they were the only source of mains water for the very dry district. Her father worried a lot about whether or not it was going to rain!
Shirley enjoyed her schooling at Cowell but the most enjoyable activity she remembers was swimming and competing in (and winning) races at the Franklin Harbour Regatta – a huge annual event for Cowell. She remembers Cowell as a small village in those days.
Her husband –to- be, Melville enlisted in June 1940. They married in Adelaide 18/3/1944 while he was on leave from service overseas. Shirley said her summer uniform was just too much like a tent to wear to be married so wore a civvy dress instead.
Shirley and a friend decided to volunteer for army service and she was called up to Keswick for assessment and training for whatever job the army decided she should do to help the war effort. She imagined serving as an ambulance driver or a member of the Searchlights team on the east coast of Australia but was selected for administration duties at Keswick Barracks and lived there for 14 months or so, working in the District Assistant Adjutant General’s office. Some of her work involved dealing with letters of enquiry and requests from servicemen’s families.
She remembers being so grateful that her husband was on his way back from Borneo at the time the war was declared over, that he returned in good shape and to a job which had been held for him-unlike many others when they returned from the war. Shirley and Mel were then able to enjoy a family life raising their children, Jillian, Andrea, Roger (dec.) and Neil (dec.) and being involved in the life of the community.
Biography contributed by Beverley Stocker
As at today's date 31/7/2021 Shirley is still living in Cowell and in good health. Her parents were Ethel (Olive) adn William (Horrie) Her husband was Mel Simms (AIF) Her children are Jill, Andrea, Neil and Roger.
A much loved resident - one of only two ex - service personnel in Cowell from WW2 service.
Click images to start slideshow.