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Born on the 6th August, 1915 in Bowden, Jack was the second of two sons of Henry William and Ruby Vera Stoddart. His siblings were Ralph George and Myra Gwendoline. Jack had just turned three when weeks later, his 31-year-old mother died at the Adelaide Hospital in August ’18. She was subsequently buried in the Hindmarsh Cemetery. The following year his father placed a tribute to Ruby in the Chronicle on behalf of his young family. STODDART.—In loving memory of my dear wife and mother, who passed away, August 31, 1918. So dearly loved, so sadly missed.—Inserted by her loving husband and little ones, Ralph, Myra, and Jack.
Henry married a second time with he and Annie having two children of their own, Don and Thelma added to the family.
With the Depression influencing work availability, Jack headed to the Riverland region where he gained employment as a fruit picker camping on the property of the growers, including one at Berri. The owner, Karol Horvat visited Jack’s camp and told the Berri Police Court in April ’35 that he “had occasion to visit the camp and saw some hessian covered with sand underneath which were two tins with bags containing sultanas and currants.” Calling in the local police, Jack was quite open, admitting "Here is the booty". He then conceded that he had taken the fruit from the orchardist’s drying green a month previously without permission. He further admitted having dried apricots, but would not reveal where they had come from, explaining that "I'd better not say, It might crab my chances of getting a job there next year.” He received a total of £3 fines for both offences, plus costs.
Jack also quickly became part of the sporting teams, playing football for Cobdogla where he was a regular in the best player list and goals scoring including a creditable seven goals against Berri in ’39. He and a future fellow enlistee, Bruno Hombsch SX1532, a magnificent ruck for Ramblers with both he and Jack being mentioned in their last game in May ’40. Jack was described as ‘Probably the best small man on the ground; his speedy ground play and intelligent handball combined with his fearless dashes through the crushes were a feature of the match.’
With the outbreak of WWII, 24-year-old Jack enlisted at Glossop on the 7th June 1940. So many others from the Riverland followed suit, including Grant Thorpe SX8031 in July. Others from the football teams and local banks followed suit. A big proportion were allocated to the 2/48th Battalion where Jack was given the number SX5466. He was amongst 18 young men who were farewelled by 400 Barmera people at the Bonney Theatre in October ’40. Many of these young men had been allocated to the 2/48th with Jack, including SX8060 Archibald McFarlaine and SX7028 Murray McFarlaine, SX8031 Grant Thorpe, SX8035 Harold Short, SX6884 R.A. Altschwager, SX7893 Ian McLeod, SX7284 Stanley Gordon, SX6935 George T. Brown (who later was killed in action on May 1st ’41) , SX7189 Lewis Semmens (who died of wounds in New Guinea on the 22nd November, ’43), SX8055 Victor Semmens and SX7969 Donald Wing.
Part of the farewell speech from the R.S.A. representative included the prediction that ‘History would repeat itself in that what had been dared by the old Diggers would be done again by the young Diggers. The mothers, sisters and sweethearts, he urged to be of good cheer and courage. The Prime Minister had given the answer that the boys would have the finest of fighting equipment. That, combined with intense training in Egypt, should make them fit enough for anything. On behalf of the local R.S.A. Sub branch, he conveyed to the men congratulations and best wishes, and gave them the assurance that they would not be let down by those left behind.’ Colonel Dean added that ‘he spoke with mixed feelings. Those feelings were of disgust and disappointment and pride. The first two because the men of the old A.I.F. were not permitted to finish the job they went away to do; the last because the men of the Second A.I.F. were going to carry on the fight and finish it, with victory. By going forth to fight the men today were giving the country their greatest service. in this they had the support of the whole of Australia, backed up with the most modern of fighting weapons. He felt confident that they would give a good account of themselves and prove second to none. He wished them good luck and God speed.’
Each of the young men were then given a gift of a pound note before each responded personally to the well-wishers. With formalities over, supper and dancing followed.
The large contingent from the 2/48th Battalion, including those from the Riverland, embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940. arriving on the 17th December 1940. Jack immediately enjoyed ‘leisure activities’ which then resulted in him being hospitalised to treat an acquired infection. Once in the Middle East, the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, Jack was soon on his way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. Jack was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
The battalion was quickly involved in the conflict, and by April ’41 the Australian infantry were determined to take and keep control of no man’s land. The enemy regularly dropped bombs twice each day, cumulating in over 3,000 drops. On the nights of the 19th and 20th April Murray Farquhar in his book Derrick V.C. reports that “Derrick led patrols on each of the following two nights. On the second he was accompanied by Jack Stoddart. They opened fire on a numerically superior enemy, killing two and taking one German and Italian officers as prisoners.” Mark Johnston in his recently published book Derrick VC In His Own Words, quotes from Derrick’s laconically written diary entry for the 19th. “Went for a stroll (Probably colloquial for patrol) to next front post & just in time to help capture 3 prisoners. Jack Stoddart & myself went out after them. Opened fire at 400 yards and got 2 Italian officers. One Hun walked in. Collected watch from my victim & think he will live, other chap snuffed it before we got him back.”
Where Derrick flourished as the conflict escalated, Jack’s time in the army was challenging. He struggled with the demands of army regulations and very quickly acquired his first ‘absent without leave’ charge of two months in February ’42. (A charge of desertion was rescinded.) Jack suffered his first significant loss of pay for the infringement plus added detention.
By July ’41 Grant Thorpe a Riverland footballer, wrote a letter which was republished in the local Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. He painted a picture of the conditions Jack also faced. “We were divebombed and machine gunned by a Messerschmidt 109, and saw a dog fight and so we thought we had been Introduced to the lot, but no. The next day the Fritzy artillery found us, but now we don't take a great deal of notice of them. Each meal time they open up and land about four to five hundred yards away and as they have been doing this for days we say "Here he comes," and don’t dive into safety as we did at first.”
Grant’s astute assessment of his fellow soldiers was also included: “Cigarettes are plentiful, which is just as well as I used seven packets the first day in, but have settled down now and smoke makings—a sure sign that the nerves are steady.” He also commented: “One day when on leave at Barmera, I met Ern Caddy and told him I had been issued with a tin hat. He said, "Grant, when you are made to train with your tin hat on, it will feel like a full-sized beach umbrella made in iron, but when shells are bursting it will appear to be the size of an aspro." Ern was exactly right. When the shrapnel was bursting around one, I cursed the inventor of the tin hat for not making them big enough so that they would unfold and I could wrap Grant up in it.”
Grant’s observations of the country-side compared with back home on the Murray are perceptive: “The Barmera lads are as fit as fiddles, this is the weather we are used to, and the country too is similar to the limestone around Morgan, minus the River of course, but dust always. A number of the Hun 18 lb. shells are duds. That suits me, but their anti-tank shells are nasty. I don't like them.”
Similarly, the laconic sense for which the Aussies became renown was illustrated in two of his recounts: “Jack Stoddart called to see me today. He has been on a lasting post for a while and said the desert makes his hair stand on end. I laughed as his hair is clean shaven.’
Jack continued to struggle with army expectations, spending several months in the Forward Punishment Centre, including three months at the end of ’42 for being absent without leave over three days. He received a 90-day field punishment and during that time also forfeited his pay. Having finally left the Middle East and returned to Australia via Melbourne, Jack headed home to the Riverland on leave with Fred Dymmott SX12373 of the 2/7th and Private Fred Morgan. Jack again went absent without leave on several occasions, was charged with ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order’, resulting in a Court of Inquiry being held in January ’44. A significantly more serious charge of desertion whilst in the field in July and in November whilst at Charters Towers in November ’44, resulted in a crippling loss of pay and twelve months detention. Jack was declared an illegal absentee following his escape from custody.
Jack’s married sister, 31-year-old Myra Whitrod underwent an operation for an abdominal infection (peritonitis) in the Royal Adelaide Hospital in June ’44 when she died unexpectedly. Her siblings placed a tribute to her memory in the ’46 issue of the Advertiser. WHITROD.—Cherished memories of our dear sister. Myra. passed away June 13. 1944. In our hearts your fond memory is ever present. Inserted by Ralph. Ruby and family: also brother Jack.
Jack’s discharge from the Army by July ’46 was colourful as he was ‘discharged in absentia for misconduct (because of illegal absence)’. His personal life was also chaotic, but he eventually married then divorcee Joyce Gwenda Watson, a Loxton resident. As did many from the Riverland, Jack and Joyce headed to the booming Whyalla area where BHP and the ship building industry provided many regular jobs. By October ’50 they welcomed the arrival of their daughter.
Jack’s father, 60-year-old Henry died in hospital in July ’51. Jack’s last years were lived in North Adelaide where, aged 72 he died on the 23rd March ’93. A plaque commemorates his service at Centennial Park.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.