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War Memorial
Australia

ames married Sylvia Patricia MARTIN (SX26586) on the 4th of November 1946 in Adelaide.

Sylvia was the daughter of Newton Felix MARTIN & Myra Rhoda WITHERS and was born on the 4th of February 1916 in Gawler, SA.

James died on the 29th of December 1996

Sylvia Patricia MARTIN was the daughter of Newton Felix MARTIN & Myra Rhoda WITHERS and was born on the 4th of February 1916 in Gawler, SA.

Sylvia was the youngest child and only daughter in a family of 4 children. Her oldest brother was sixteen years old when she was born.

The Martin Family lived on the Lyndoch Road, Gawler, and her father was a furniture dealer in Murray Street and a building contractor for many years.

Her father was very involved with the Boy Scouts and served a long period as scoutmaster.

In 1917 the family moved to 14 Edith Street, Gawler.

Sadly on the 19th of September 1919, one of her younger brothers; Dudley died at their residence, aged 16 years. They buried Dudley in the St George’s Anglican Cemetery, Gawler.

In the early 1920’s they employed Susan Smith as a maid in their home.

Now with an empty bedroom in their home, the Martin family took a young lad from Tanunda in as a boarder in January 1923. James Robert KEATS was the son of Alfred James KEATS & Helena Johanna LANGE and was born on the 9th of April 1911 in Square Mile, SA. His father was a school teacher.

James (Jim) attended the Gawler High School with her youngest brother; Merlyn.

Her father died on the 13th of April 1930 in Gawler, SA.

The children buried him with their mother in the St George’s Anglican Cemetery, Gawler.

Sylvia was only 14 years old and both her parents were deceased. Her mother had been killed 24 June 1925 by a boarder.

She went to live with her Aunty & Uncle, Mr Frederick William WEIDENHOFER and Veletia Fern nee WITHERS in Bridge Street, Murray Bridge. Frederick had married Vetelia, a sister of her mother’s.

Frederick was a Police Sergeant and they later moved to Pt Lincoln.

Sylvia studied and became a nurse and moved to 2 Payneham Road, Rugby (Payneham).

She enlisted into the CMF on the 21st of August 1841 in Wayville, SA.

She was transferred to 105th Australian Medical Hospital, Dawes Park in July 1942.

At the age of 25 years, Sylvia enlisted, as a nurse, into the Australian Army Nursing Services on the 16th of September 1942 in Wayville, SA and was allotted the service number SX26586.

She listed her uncle; Frederick Weidenhofer as next of kin.

Sylvia was posted to 2/14th Australian General Hospital in Townsville 2 months later. On the 23rd of March 1943, she was promoted to Lieutenant.

In February 1945, Sylvia was transferred to 104th Australian General Hospital, Bathurst, NSW.

In June she embarked for the 2/7th Australian General Hospital in Lae.

Sylvia only spent 58 days in Lae before being transferred back to Australia as she suffered terribly from severely from Eczema.

Sylvia was discharged on the 7th of June 1946 and at the time of her discharge; she was posted to 104 Casualty Clearing Station.

Sylvia married James Owen GEDDES on the 4th of November 1946 in Adelaide. James was the son of James Sim GEDDES & Mildred Mary GILES and was born on the 13th of October 1914 in Pt Pirie, SA.

James had enlisted in 1940 and was allotted the service number SX2725.

He served with the 26th Australian Infantry Brigade.

He received the Member of The Order of the British Empire in 1947.

Sylvia died on the 5th of January 1992