Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert was born in Adelaide on the 9th July 1916 and was named after his father, Albert James Robinson of Woodville. He was their only son and soon became known by his middle name, shortened to ‘Jim’. As a young man, Jim joined the Militia as S127 where he rose to the rank of Corporal during his time at Keswick. He was also part of the Catholic Young Men’s Society which met in the Palace Billiard Hall. Events such as a fortnightly midweek dance, walking tours and socials were some of the offerings. Jim was also a partner in the hugely popular Debutant Ball where 44 debutants were presented to His Grace the Archbishop (Most Rev. A. Killian, D.D.).
Jim worked as a salesman, but with the outbreak of WWII, aged 24, he enlisted on the 10th June ’41 at Wayville. Training at Woodside followed until he was transferred to Headquarters ‘G’ Branch in February ’42. In the following months, promotions quickly followed, with him being Senior Sergeant in April ’42. That month Jim and Stephanie Kempson from Kilkenny, announced their engagement.
A variety of training opportunities followed in South Australia but by May ’43 Jim marched out to Cowra in New South Wales. Less than three months later he sustained multiple wounds to his arms and buttocks on home soil. However, a decision was made that the wounding did not warrant investigation.
Having recovered, in November ‘43 Jim joined the now famous 2/48th Battalion in Townsville and was soon on his way to New Guinea, serving there for four months. On his return to Brisbane, he married Stephanie Elsa while home on leave on the 4th March ’44. Within months, Jim was promoted to Warrant Officer II in August that year.
Jim was then sent to Morotai and thence to Tarakan in May ’45. However, two months later he was diagnosed with hyphaema, an accumulation of blood between the cornea and iris of his left eye, tropical ulcers on his hands, feet legs and shoulders plus an inflammation of a surface vein in his groin. A month’s recovery followed before he was able to leave Morotai for Tarakan but in doing so suffered a further eye injury, phlebitis for the closing days of the war. He was finally discharged on the 8th November, ’45.
Jim’s wife, 79-year-old Stephanie pre-deceased him and died on the 8th March 2001. She was buried in the Normanville Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery where a simple plaque commemorates her life. Aged 83, Jim died on the 29th July 1999 and is remembered with a similar plaque.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.