Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Peter Roberts SX805
James Jeffrey Roberts Snr, was one of the early settlers to clear his land, ‘Tourney Park’ at Calca, just out of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. His bullock team removed the mallee scrub before good livestock, of which he was justifiably proud, was introduced. James and wife Mary Ellen had four daughters and two sons, Andy and James Peter. The latter was born on the 23rd September 1912 at Calca. James (Jim) was almost 2 at the time of his father’s early death aged 44 on the 16th September, 1914 of a condition called ‘dropsy’ but now recognised as oedema caused by fluid retention. He was buried at Streaky Bay. Mary Roberts and her family later moved to the Riverland where Jim grew up.
Post school, Jim joined the staff of the local Pioneer Printing, proving to be a talented writer with may of articles being published during the war years.
While most locals were confident and competent swimmers in the Murray, it could also be a dangerous river for those less strong. One such area was the Rowing Club Ramp, where the river bank extended into the water before the level dropped away quickly into a channel with a strong current. Jim was one of the older locals who had been giving a young lad, Marshall Trenwith some initial swimming lessons but Marshall was certainly not a strong swimmer. He had been trialling as a cox for the Rowing Club as had his older brother. In December ’30 Jim and other members of the Renmark Rowing Club's Maiden Eight were in a group swimming, prior to starting their rowing practice. They heading up stream for a mile before returning to learn that Marshall was missing. The crew sprang into immediate action, unsuccessfully searching along the reserve and river bank as many community members joined in the search. Distressingly, when young Marshall’s shed locker was forced open, his clothes were there but his bathers were missing. Jim and other strong swimmers, Colin Trenwith and the Wescombe brothers (later SX14784) dived along the river between the willows and the wharf as the police dragged the river bed. Their efforts were exhausting but continued for more than 30 minutes in the dark, slimy river and amongst the snags. Jim’s partner, working upstream (W Wescome) thought he had found the lad. Despite being exhausted from so many deep dives, Jim dived twice and on the second attempt brought Marshall’s body to the surface. The ‘Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record’ reported that “Needless to say, the sad fatality made a deep impression on those who had collected on the bank. There must have been over 100 persons watching the diving operations, and many expressed their admiration of the swimmers' unceasing efforts in the recovery of the body and of their tactful consideration for the parents' feelings.”
Jim was also an active member of the Renmark Rowing Club with fundraising, undertaking the role of treasurer for the Renmark Swimming Club which was actively involved in Country Carnivals.
Besides being a talented swimmer and rower, Jim also played football for the local Rovers team, frequently being named in the best player list for his role at half back where his cany anticipation of play created regular turnovers. He was unfortunate when playing for Renmark in a match against Waikerie, to be knocked unconscious in the final seconds of a game where he had dominated with his clean marking. Jim was also fortunate to represent Upper Murray in a match against city based West Torrens in ’39. Whilst losing the match, Jim’s fine marking was again a feature of that game.
In summer, Jim played Cricket for his work-based Press team, ‘Pioneer’ but he and his older brother Andy also took time to coach their nephew, Adrian Jolly. As a gifted boarder at Rostrevor College Adrian built on his uncles’ early coaching so that by the age of 12, he had created a record of scoring three centuries in under 13 cricket with a batting average of 139.5. Jim was certainly proud of this achievement.
With the outbreak of war, aged 27, Jim enlisted in October ’39 as part of the 6th Division Reconnaissance Regiment. He and good friend, John Malycha (SX822) drove to Adelaide later that month to go into camp as part of their training with the second A.I.F.
Typical of many country families, Jim was a competent dancer. At a Renmark Boy Scout Jamboree fund raiser then 20-year-old Jim and Una Jean Holwill won the Monte Carlo dance. This probably was the start of their romance which culminated in their engagement on January 1st 1938 and marriage in November ’39 at the Walkerville Catholic Hall. A guard of Honour was formed by the River members of the Second A.I.F. Jim chose a fellow enlistee, John Malycha as his best man. Two of Jim’s sisters, Kathleen and Anne helped decorate the church. The newly weds had a short honeymoon at Largs Bay prior to Private Jim Roberts travelling to Ingleburn, New South Wales, with the Reconnaissance Division of the Second A.I.F.
Home on precious leave in January ‘40 Jim and Jean spent time at Berri. Later that year in August in Gaza, Jim participated in the Divisional Cavalry surf swimming Carnival, colourfully described by the Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record as "The biggest event in Gaza since Samson pulled down the pillars of the temple and slew the Philistines— Judging by the excitement among the hundreds of Arab onlookers." The beach was crowded with many thousands of spectators, most of them diggers, and it was probably the strangest setting in which an Australian surf carnival was ever held." As a staff member of his local newspaper, Jim frequently wrote other articles which appeared in the ‘Pioneer’. He would report on meeting other Riverland men as well as incidents of illness he sustained, including ulcers on an eyelid following a sandfly bite and appendicitis, treated at a magnificent marble hospital built by an ex-Kaiser in 1907.Jim also spent time touring WWI cemeteries which recorded deaths post the declaration of peace where soldiers died due to an outbreak of pneumonic flu.
Later that year, Jim wrote to Jean describing the road through the Sinai desert “made simply by pouring the Colas over the sands. I'm not sure how many coatings are actually put on. but it makes a wonderful road through miles of desert”. Seeing the Pyramids and visiting the Cairo Bazaar (where they were robbed the first time before revisiting with a police guide) were described in detail as was his daily bath in the desert. “You would be very amused to see us having our daily baths in a bucket and scrubbing each other's backs.” A fascinating and prophetic visit to an Egyptian Astronomer gleaned the following "He says the war will finish in February with England successful; that Italy will be thrashed in her attempt to invade Egypt; that September would be England's toughest month in the air.''
In another article published in May, ’41 Jim detailed the March assault on Giarabub which began with a three-month siege and culminated during an intense sandstorm. Jim described this as “a Godsend to us. At daylight the curtain was raised in earnest and our forward troops were able to get within about a hundred yards of the outposts before the blighters realized it was really on in earnest. The Cavalry came in from one direction and the Infantry from another. As soon as the "Ities" found us in so close, they surrendered in droves and the whole business only lasted about six hours and our old flag was flying from the Mosque at mid-day. Eight hundred Italian prisoners were taken and about half that number, were killed or wounded, making about twelve hundred all told.” He described his involvement as “My own share of the fight was driving the ammunition waggon, and it had its interesting moments—particularly. on one occasion when the “Ities" mistook the knoll I was sheltering behind for the Artillery observation post, and-pasted hell out of it for about- 20. minutes. Mr. Lapthorne's troop's eventually silencing them for keeps—but on the whole little ammunition was needed, as the scrap didn't last long enough.” Leave soon followed and Jim commented “Just imagine what clean white sheets, hot baths, good food and a few "noggins'" mean to us, after three and a half months in the desert.” Reflecting the closeness of the Riverland ‘boys’ Jim wrote “we lined all we could find from Barmera, Berri, Renmark, Loxton and "Waikerie in different groups and took photos of each and also names. I think Gilmore will like them for "The Pioneer”, so I'm sending them along to him. Had long talks with Doug Ogilvy and Allan Kumnick and hosts of other lads – in fact met the lot. You would have thought a ‘Gang of women’ had got together for a “Mother’s Meeting.”
In a blow to Jean and Jim, Jean’s father, John Holwill died suddenly on May 14th 1941. By July 1942, Jean enlisted in the AWAS, becoming S65115 and rising to the rank of Colonel. She was discharged on 10th March 1944 with Jim being discharged on the 24th September 1945.
Post war, the young couple had a son, Christopher. Both mothers of Jim and Jean lived to enjoy peace. Jean’s mother, Florence died in June 53 in Melbourne hospital. Mary, Jim’s mother, died in 1955 aged 83 and was buried in the Loxton Cemetery. Jim and Jean’s service is commemorated at the Berri Oval and on the Renmark District Roll of Honour.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion