Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Russell Gilmour Jamieson
On April 30th, 1922 Russell was born in Highbury East to William and Agnes Jamieson and was the oldest of three boys. His father William (Bill) served in WWI, initially with the 27th Battalion in Egypt in 1915 but when the troops left for France he transferred as a despatch rider with the First Anzac Cyclist Battalion, surviving illness to return home at the conclusion of the conflict but sadly his brother died in Egypt.
Russell’s parents were active in the local Church where Agnes played the organ and both she and Bill were in the choir. Russell attended the Presbyterian Sunday School where, as a 10-year-old he was confident enough to give a solo for the Christmas Evening celebrations, before Father Christmas arrived! He was also an active participant in the combined schools’ picnic where he successfully represented Hill River in the wheelbarrow race and boys’ under 14 sprints plus the quaintly named rooster race. As with many young country men, Russell continued to be active in community sport, playing both Football and Cricket for Spalding, as had his father Bill who initially played for Mintaro, then Clare where he was frequently named as best on ground.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII, Russell farmed in the fertile mid-north but an active recruitment drive in the Clare District resulted in almost 400 enlistments, including the two Jamieson boys, Eric (aged 18) and Russell (aged 19) both enlisted during June 1940. Eric was rejected, but Russell became SX6333, a member of the 2/43rd -Battalion, which initially trained at Woodside. The local Northern Argus newspaper had a poignant article reported that those who served in WWI, the ‘war to end all wars’ had not expected it would bring just 25 years of peace and they would be seeing their sons now enlisting, being forced to ‘live over again in the lives of their children (or their cobber's children) the pride, fears, enthusiasms and loyalties that were their own on many fields of battle.’ And that ‘Eric and Russell were the first sons of a Clare returned soldier to enlist, so far as we have been able to ascertain, and we have made a very thorough investigation.’ Geoffrey, the youngest son, aged 16 also entered the DOMF (Darwin Overland Maintenance Force) where he served for 18 months from Alice Springs to Birdum before transferring to the AIF as SX24864 in 1942, serving in the Northern Zone.
At the same time his sons enlisted, Bill left Clare for Adelaide to join the Garrison Battalion for home defence.
The Clare community organised a Presentation for Russell and Lance Corporal F. C. Lange in the Mayor’s Parlour before they left to take up duties. Typical of a country community, any news from those serving was generously shared in the local paper. While at sea, Capt. D. E. Taylor wrote in February 1941 that “Australia seems to be a long way away these days, and it has become extremely hot and humid. Every day since we left Australia there has been on issue to the troops many things, including plums, oranges, (kept in cold storage), chocolate, tobacco, and papers and cigarettes, and fruit cake. A little word to our friends and relatives: 'Write often to the boys.' At our first port of call we received some mail, and I issued same to my Company. I could read the expectant looks on every face, and also the change to one of disappointment on many of them. I felt very sorry for them, especially having myself received two from my wife, one from my mother, and one each from my children. Letters are like a breath of fresh air, 'so keep it up Clareites´” He mentioned by name those he had come across who were from Clare, Watervale, Auburn and Sevenhills, including Private Jamieson. Taylor wryly reported that “the German wireless claims to-day to have sunk this boat; so far we haven't noticed it. However, the sea is fairly calm today, and should not be very cold; so perhaps that's why we haven't noticed that we have been sunk. Have just heard it announced over the wireless that the rumor had started on the ship, and was not official.”
As the conflict wore on, articles began to include lists of those missing in action, confirmed deaths and Prisoners of War. In October 1943 a dreaded headline announced “Clare Soldier Wounded in Action. Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Jamieson, of Colliver street, Norwood, have been notified that their son, Sgt. R. G. Jamieson, was wounded in action in New Guinea on October 1. Sgt. Jamieson enlisted in June, 1940, and served in the Middle East with the 9th. Division. He enlisted from Clare and is on the local Honor Roll. The family were living here at the time of his enlistment.”
More distressing news followed for the family in November of that year when they learnt of the death of their youngest son, Geoffrey in a drowning accident while on service in Queensland.
By 1946 the Mid-North community was finally able to welcome home 45 of their own service personnel, including Russell. The Spalding Hall was flower-decked and the local brass band joyously playing 'Advance Australia Fair,' as the service men and women entered. While the focus was on welcoming home those serving in the forces, their first thoughts were for those who would not come back. In a poignant reminder, Father Morrissy observed that “Many of their mates would not return, and many a mother would still go out in the silence of the night to listen for the sound of a voice that will never come — but it will be mute, and she will wend her lonely way back to her cottage.” He continued; “in the language of his ancestors he wished to greet them all with 'Cead Mile Failte' (A Hundred Thousand Welcomes.)”
In January 1951 a WWII Honor Roll was unveiled at that Spalding District Hall. It contained 94 names 12 of whom made the supreme sacrifice.
Aged 77, Russell died on the 27th August 1999 and is fittingly buried in Derrick Gardens at Centennial Park.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion