Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Joseph Hynes (Jimmy)

A true gentleman. Deeply loved by his wife Marion Hynes and his family and brothers in arms alike.

Jimmy was married twice. His first wife was tragically struck by a vehicle on a Christmas day and passed tragically.Just another thing he bore silently.

But he then went on to meet his Second wife Marion (Mabsy) who would be with him to the day he  passed, cruelly taken by Parkinsons Disease.

She went on to live several more years after Jimmy but missed him greatly.

They never had children of their own but they dearly loved their nephew Boyd and his two girls Gloria and Maree who they treated as if they were their own.

Jimmy worked in the field using oxen after the War. Mabsy always proudly told of how strong he was steering them to work the crops. He then worked in a general hard ware store until his retirement and then served as the Secretary of the Merino RSL Sub Branch for many years. Each Anzac day was special to Jimmy. It was his birthday and boy did he celebrate with his former brothers in arms after 9the Anzac March through the streets of Merino.

Each year they would travel around to meet up with his former unit at their annual catch ups.

Jimmy was a avid Cricketer, Footballer and participated in both sports in the local teams.

He was also a fantastic gardener and grew the most fabulous vegetables.

Although he was quiet and well spoken he had the most fantastic sense of humour, catching you off guard with his quiet wit.

He loved reading his paper every morning and having  a cold beer every night. He loved his wife's cooking and always told her so.

He was an icon in the local hotel,you always knew when Jimmy had been in, as there was a mountain of "Bingo" tickets left in the floor tray. He quite often won (we think thats because he actually bought all the tickets )but he was generous and would share his winnings. Jimmy and Mabsy were also known for beingg wonderfull entertainers. The local town hall had to be hired to fit in all their friends and familuy to celebrate their 40th Ruby Wedding anniversary.

He would wait everyday for Maree (great niece) to get off the bus from high school on her way home and invite her in for a cola and a biscuit treat with himself and Mabsy. He adored her. And she him. She misses him everyday still. He taught her about saving money, growing veggies, gave the best back scratches and the comics page fom his paper, and every year taught her about the importance of Anzac day as he sold Anzac Pins and the importance of the RSL and the flag and country he fought for. 

He never spoke about the atrocities he saw of the war but they clearly left him battle scarred mentally and also physically but he always praised the "Fuzzy Wuzzies' and according to Mabsy. "They saved him". He lost part of his hearing due to firing canons and eventually the sight of one eye but he never complained. Probably because he got to come home unlike his fallen friends.

Jimmy passed in December of 1996 with his wife by his side and had a RSL funeral and was laid to rest at the Merino Cemetery. His wife Marion Hynes now lays beside him.

Lest we forget