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War Memorial
Australia

James Chesworth Nicholls was born 2 December 1919 at Booleroo Centre, son of Harry and Annie Rose (nee Smith) Nicholls. Harry and Annie farmed ‘Hope Farm’  Booleroo Whim, section 23, Hundred of Willowie.

Jim’s occupation was farmer when he enlisted with the Militia on 1 April 1942, aged 22 years. He noted previous experience as a member of the Rifle Club Reserves. On enlistment he was assigned to 3 Training Battalion, (3 T Btn) and allocated Army number S2683.

He remained with 3 T Btn until 2 June 1942. He was moved to 18 Garrison Battalion (Grn Btn) on 18 June to patrol the beach defences until  November of that year. In the September Jim was also detached to 31 Grn Btn which was guarding vital points, such as fuel depots.

5 November 1942 he was marched into 32 Infantry TBtn, where he remained until early February 1943 and was then with various transit units prior to service overseas.

He embarked on the ‘Duntroon’ at Townsville 23 March 1943 and on arrival in New Guinea marched out to 61 Australian Infantry Btn, part of the 7th Brigade, at Donadabu, near Port Moresby, where they were undergoing training. On 19 July 1943 Jim was transferred to the AIF and allocated Army number SX31595.

In November 1943 the Brigade was progressively returned home. Jim boarded the ‘William Hume’ on 8 January 1944, arriving in Townsville before returning to South Australia on seasonal leave without pay. He returned 5 April to 61 Inf Btn which had regrouped in the Atherton Tablelands for further training.

On 14 August 1944 Jim boarded the ‘Katoomba’ for New Guinea, where the 61st Btn were garrisoning the Madang area. On 10 November he boarded the ‘Cape Victory’ disembarking at Torokina, Bougainville on 13 November 1944. Here the 61st Btn served in the Southern Sectors, joining the 7th Brigade advance to the Puriata river.

His son recalls his father relating some experiences of his service overseas. One such event was trading shots with a Japanese machine gun when an incendiary bullet penetrated the log he was using as protection and fizzing out immediately in front of him. That using grenades was a much more efficient way of fishing, and having his unoccupied tent shredded by mortar fire during an attack on the camp.

He was evacuated out to hospital in May 1945 with ancylostomiasis, a hookworm infection of the small intestine which often led to anaemia. After peace was declared in August 1945 priority was given to those who had served longest or otherwise qualified for early return to Australia. Those with low priorirty were transferred to other units. On 10 October 1945 Jim was transferred to 27 Btn before his turn came to return home.

Jim left Torokina aboard the ‘Katoomba’, disembarking at Townsville on 16 December 1945. He was officially discharged from the AIF at Hampstead on the 8 January 1946. On his certificate of discharge, it was noted that he had served a total of 1302 days, with 786 of those spent on active service outside of Australia.

Jim returned to Booleroo Whim. He worked with his brother Cliff on the farm, buying more land at Booleroo Centre in the mid 1950’s. He married Florence Gertrude Baldock on the 26 Jan 1957. They had three children. In the mid 60’s the Booleroo Whim property was sold and Jim and his family moved into Booleroo Centre. Jim phased out of the day to day running of the farm in the 80’s as son Geoff took over although he was still driving the tractor at seeding time well into his 70’s. Jim passed away on the 19 July 2000, at Booleroo Centre, aged 80 years, and is interred at Booleroo Cemetery, South Australia, Plot 630.

Excerpt taken from "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie and Andrew Barrie