Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James was one of triplets born on the 16th July 1910 at Auburn in the Clare Valley region of South Australia to Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Cooper. James’ two sister triplets were Stella Mary Susan and Enid Elizabeth Maria who unfortunately died on the same day in February the following year aged 7 ½ months. James, known as Jim, had other siblings including two older brothers, Ray Thomas and Kenneth Roy.
Just a week prior to Jim’s 8th birthday, his 58-year-old father died in July with the Daily Herald reporting ‘Mr. Thomas Cooper, a widely known and highly respected resident of Auburn died on July 9 at the age of- 58 years. He left a wife and seven children.’
The family continued to work the farm and be involved in local events including the Auburn District Hospital Day in ’26 as a fundraiser for the Hospital. (Jim’s youngest brother, Ray came second in the IXL Bending race). Post school, James worked as a farm labourer until the outbreak of WWII. 29-year-old Jim enlisted on the 24th June at Clare where a huge campaign was mounted to encourage fit, single young men to enlist. He was allocated the number SX8282 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion with his early training beginning at Wayville.
His older brother, 33-year-old Ken, also a farmer, enlisted days later on the 1st July ’40 and was allocated to Jim’s sister battalion, the 2/43rd as SX7927. He arrived in the Middle East the following month and served at both Tobruk and El Alamein. Ken was eventually adjudged as fit for non-combative duties and was discharged on the 1st December ’43.
Jim had brief pre-embarkation leave before boarding the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. The following year a series of injuries, including enteritis, hip challenges and a tonsillectomy made life challenging.
He was wounded in action in October ‘42, with a gunshot wound to his left thigh and a fracture to his Left Femur, the wound turning gangrenous. At the time Jim was involved in the attack on El Alamein and Trig 29. John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ gave an insight into the conditions at the time where in the fading light, two German commanding officers were captured from a forward patrol around Trig 29. The maps they were carrying proved invaluable, showing no mines in the area under which the battalion was advancing.
However, Glenn recorded that the 2/48th in the early hours of the 26th October, advanced on the German held Trig 29 under heavy mortar and artillery fire. Private Jack Ralla recalled the earth-shattering noise, commenting that “As much as you felt like going to ground you just kept plugging on. I kept thinking the next shell could have my number on it. You could smell them gong past.” On the 28th Jim’s battalion waited patiently, some dozing in trucks while others paced outside. An enemy shell made a direct hit on one of the trucks wounding seven. Pieces of shrapnel slapped into the ground near the trucks. During this seeming chaos, Jim was wounded.
Back home, local newspapers early in November ‘42 recorded that Jim and fellow 2/48th soldier, SX13203, Thomas Brierley were both dangerously wounded. Fortunately, by the end of the month better news reported that Jim was ‘removed from all lists’.
However because of the location and severity of the injury meant that Jim was classified as medically unfit for activities including marching. By January ’43 he was heading home to Australia and precious leave. There was an added highlight with Jim and Mabel Elizabeth Stacey of Strathalbyn announcing their engagement in August ’43. Jim continued to serve, acquired a new skill of becoming a qualified Boot Repairer. In May ’44 he was transferred to Victoria, returning to South Australia in December and discharged on the 23rd February the following year.
Jim and Mabel married in April ’45 at the Strathalbyn Methodist Church in a mid afternoon ceremony. With her father deceased, Mabel’s brother Edward walked her down the aisle and her sister Constance was her attendant. Jim chose James English S9801 from Auburn as his best man. The young couple then began married life at Riverton in the Lower North. There they welcomed three children, Mary, Tom and Nancy.
With peace finally arriving and serving troops returning home, in March ’46 a huge ‘Welcome Home’ was organised in the Auburn Institute for the discharged servicemen with over 350 people attending, including Jim and his brother Ken. Each serviceman was presented with a Certificate of Honor signed by the Chairman of the District Council of Upper Wakefield. Jim was one of the Army respondents.
He developed a passion for golf, playing at Kooyonga in an Army Golf Competition in September ’46 with 249 other players. The following year, Jim (representing Riverton) was extremely successful in the Kapunda Golf Club Open Competitions, winning the 18-hole handicap on a count back and the 9-hole Eclectic handicap with a net 29 ½ . Jim was also a passionate bowls player for Riverton R.S.L. in a competition against Saddleworth R.S.L. and again achieved creditably in a well attended competition.
Aged 74, Jim died on the 25th April 1985 and was buried in the Auburn Cemetery. Mabel lived to be 93 and now rests with Jim in Plot 500 S.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.