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Australia

James was born at Meningie on the 11th July 1906 to Frederick George and Henrietta Sarah. Home was on the Coorong, on the shores of Lake Albert. James (known as Jim) was the seventh of twelve children with siblings, Frederick Robert, John Loftus, Henrietta Beatrice, Lot Azore, William Henry, Mary, Richard Leonidas, 402014 Francis John, Alice Mildred, Pauline Clarice and Gloria. Their father, Frederick was highly regarded for his involvement in the local Council Coorong Ward in the 20’s and 30s.
Jim met a young Macclesfield woman, Jean O’Malley whose family were seen as the backbone of the Macclesfield community until Jean’s father, Lot O’Malley sold his business to retire to Adelaide in ‘29. Jean had been the much loved, hard-working Brown Owl (the junior leader in the Girl Guides). The community gave the family a rousing farewell in acknowledgement of such prominent townspeople.
Following the announcement of Jim and Jean’s engagement, in March ’36 a kitchen evening was held in the Charleston Institute, attended by about 90 people. As the young couple entered the Hall, Jean was presented with a bouquet and Jim with a buttonhole. Jim and Jean had been associated with a range of clubs, including the literary society, basketball (now netball), tennis and cricket, with representatives of all speaking in praise of the young couple. Jim responded on his and Jean’s behalf, with thanks for the best wishes and gifts showered on them. In typical country style, music, items, competitions, games and dancing continued until midnight.
Jim played football but was also a regular and highly respected umpire for basketball (netball) and cricket.
Jean and Jim eagerly awaited the birth of their first child in May ’38. However, in an horrific tragedy, their baby daughter was stillborn on the 11th and 24-year-old Jean died in childbirth. She was later buried in the West Terrace Cemetery. Jean continued to be remembered and mourned by her family and Jim in the ensuing years.
In a further blow, seven months after Jean’s death, Jim’s father, 73-year-old Frederick died in January ’39 in the Tailem Bend Hospital. Soon after, with the eruption of WWII, four of his sons enlisted. The first was Richard, a 30-year-old grocer who became a Flying Officer, V83400, in 12 Squadron, enlisting on the 6th April ’40 in Broadmeadows. Despite later being involved in an air crash, he survived to eventually be discharged on the 9th January, ’46.
Three months later, two weeks before his 34th birthday, Jim became the second of the brothers to enlist and was allocated the number SX8027. He enlisted at a similar time to another local, Tom Brown. Jim had worked for the Agricultural Department in herd testing. At the time, a decision was made to combine the Hills and Mount Barker Associations into the one Association, with testing moving from monthly, to bi-monthly. However, the war intervened. In May ’40 Jim was elected as recorder and treasurer of the association but was granted leave of absence upon his enlistment for service for the duration of the war, with his position being kept open for him. At the time he worked as a milk tester.
39-year-old Station manager William S85613 was the next to enlist on the 3rd June ’42 at Narrung. With the war drawing to a conclusion, he was eventually discharged on the 3rd March ’45 at his own on request. The final brother to enlist was 42-year-old Lot, a Dairy Farmer, on the 4th March ’43 at Nurrung as S85612. He also was eventually discharged on the 17th August ’43 for not attending parade (and probably influenced by his age).
Jim was placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, little knowing it was to become one of the highly respected and decorated battalions for their outstanding service in the Middle East and later, New Guinea. Jim was early identified as having leadership potential and in October ‘40 had the rank of Acting Lance Corporal. His attendance at Officer Training supported this initial assessment with praise for his positive attitude and exam performance. Early that month Jim and Mabel Agnes Miller, from Lobethal, announced their engagement. Jim also returned to Lobethal during pre-embarkation leave where he and four other enlistees were farewelled in the local Hall. Following numerous items, the enlistees were presented with a fountain pen, and wished the best of luck and a safe return. A traditional country supper followed by dancing rounded the evening. Having the rank of Acting Sergeant, Jim sailed on the Stratheden on the 7th November ’40. Unfortunately, in the close confines of the ship he developed mumps, resulting in time spent in the ship’s hospital. He eventually arrived in the Middle East on the 17th December, but unfortunately his mumps diagnosis returned early the following year. Still not fully fit by the end of the year, Jim contracted an extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin). This, plus malaria continued to make ’42 quite unpleasant, on top of the living conditions where Jim was to earn the proudly claimed title of being a Rat of Tobruk. This was initially designed by the Germans as a derogatory term to sap the morale of the Australian troops who were living in sandy dugouts like rats. In typical Aussie style, the men proudly adopted the term as a badge of honour and camaraderie.
Back home, in July ’41 Mabel Miller of Lobethal, was celebrating her 21st birthday. On the evening much was made of her fiancé Sgt. Jim Ayers, serving in the Middle East. He had sent home a silver filagree set from Jerusalem which Mabel wore on the evening. Jim had also sent a cable from Tobruk which was read to the gathered friends and family.
Jim’s battalion finally left the Middle East to return to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43. Back home, Jim was diagnosed with a form of spina bifida, an inflammation of the bones and his spinal cord, plus malaria, all of which contributed to him being placed on restricted duties due to his poor medical fitness. While still on leave, he married Mabel Miller on the 3rd March ’43 in the Lobethal Lutheran Church in an evening service. Jim chose his brother Sergeant Richard as his best man. For her ‘travelling costume’, Mabel wore a navy-blue silk outfit, made from material sent from Jim when in the Middle East.
By July ’43 Jim was diagnosed with chronic Lumbar Fibrositis which led to his being finally discharged on the 2nd December ’43 as medically unfit. He returned to his civilian work but also developed new interests, becoming a proficient breeder of several different variety of flowers that won awards at the Annual Lobethal Show. These included dahlias, asters and flocks as well as garden cactus. Mabel was also active in the Lobethal Agricultural Women’s Branch, attending Adelaide-held conferences and reporting back to the local group. In one, the focus was on safety in the home as the rate of injuries for women were the same as in car accidents. The strong message was for women not to polish their floors as this action was responsible for a surprising number of fatalities and injuries.
A huge ‘Welcome Home’ social was held for the 31 local Charleston service men and women in March ’46. Flags and flowers in red, white and blue decorated the Hall. Sergeant Ayres was amongst the group lauded with a musical program followed by a two-minute silence for the four young men who had not returned. They included 25-year-old SX1751 Percy Bowen of the 2/10th, 29-year-old SX6815 Alan Bell who served with the sister battalion, the 2/43rd, 27 year old SX7619 John Dunn 2/3rd Machine Gun, who died in Japan as a Prisoner of War, and Allan Harrison S11681 who served in the Air Force. Jim and the other returnees were presented with a certificate, acknowledging their service.
At a Remembrance Sunday held in the Lobethal Lutheran Church in November that year, a plaque was unveiled in the church Porch. In doing so, the Pastor commented “In due appreciation of what these men did and endured in our country's and Empire's cause during the years of war, of their courage and example of steadfastness, I now unveil this fine honor roll.” Amongst other locals, the Roll carried Jim’s name.
By May ’48, Jim and Mabel were farewelled by the Lobethal Community as they headed to the South East to take up land as part of the Soldier Settler Scheme. A smoke social was organised for Jim, a very popular man in the district for his keen interest in all local affairs, including bowls, cricket and golf, as a basketball (netball) umpire as well as his outstanding abilities as a Government Dairy Adviser and as a past member of the Hospital board. Both he and Mabel had been heavily involved in all community activities. Mabel was presented with a beautiful Onkaparinga rug as a memento of their hometown. Mabel was also farewelled by her church group, with tributes from the Mothers and Babies Health Association, where Mabel had been secretary, also the Red Cross and the Women's branch of the Agricultural Bureau.
With land under the soldier settler scheme in the South East, Jim and Mabel were soon involved in all aspects of their new community. Jim was involved in the formation of a local Mil Lel-Mingbool Liberal and Country League (LCL) branch, initially as Vice President, but eventually as President. Jim was also very supportive of the efforts of the volunteer Emergency Fire Services which had been instrumental in saving many tons of hay during a fire at a Mingbool farm. He made a generous donation to support the volunteers.
Jim was also a driving force encouraging soil research to ensure the new soldier settlers were best able to maximise production on the new farms and to support the settlers in improving their lands as required by the Government as part of the scheme. Flooding of pastures had exacerbated the need to hand feed cows, which hampered progress and viability. Jim’s background helped his success, winning an open competition during ’51 for his work at Mil Lel for the best South East dairy farm conducted by the Pasture Improvement Committee of the Australian Dairy Produce Board. He continued to excel with his farming methods, including the growing of potatoes for the NSW and Adelaide markets and in the efficient running of the local Mount Gambier Show.
Mabel and Jim had four children, Philip, Bronte, Graham and Kathryn. Philip and Jim paired in a pigeon shoot coordinated by the Kingston Gun Club, each taking home an eighth share of the£120 prize money. Jim also became involved as a dairy cattle judge, chairman of an Athletics Club, focussing on middle distance and sprint races as well as jumping, and also a regular cricketer.
By ’53 fellow soldier settlers encouraged Jim to stand for the local Mingbool Ward as Jim was one of the first 13 to take an allotment in this district and went on to his block in 1948. Jim accepted the nomination “because he owed his own success largely to the district, and he felt he could do no less than try to repay that debt by service to the district.” Fellow settlers added “Prior to this, from 1929, he had been with the Department of Agriculture as a dairy officer in the Adelaide Hills. During World War II, he served with the A.I.F. in the Middle East, and, on his discharge, returned to the Department. Since starting at Mingbool, he has built up the "Leeuwarden" stud for Friesian cattle and Dorset Horn sheep. Although almost fully occupied with his new property, Mr. Ayres has taken an active interest in the dairying section of the A.P.P.U., the General Committee of the Show Society, and the Mil Lel Agricultural Bureau. In addition to his success as a dairyman and wool grower, Mr. Ayres was a pioneer of the certified seed programme of potatoes in the South-East.” High praise indeed.
Aged 81 Jim died on the 6th February ’88 and was buried in the Lobethal General Cemetery. His 28-year-old daughter, Kathryn Joy was later buried with him in July ’88. Jim is also remembered at Centennial Park Cemetery on the Wall of Remembrance. Mabel lived to be 87. She died in September 2007 with her ashes being placed with Jim and Kathryn at Lobethal.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.