Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert James Daniel Jeffries also known as Butch was born in February 1918 at Midland Junction, Western Australia to parents Edwin Daniel Williams and Lillian Blanche Huxley who were married at Midland Junction in 1917.

Robert’s father was from Charters Towers, Queensland working as a miner where he was also known as Edwin Daniel Edmonds. It was in 1912 he married a Bella Jane Hunter, with his son born in 1913. Edwin deserted his family a year later.

In 1916 Roberts father enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in Queensland under the alias of Edwin Daniel Williams. He was attached to a Tunnelling Company, arriving in Fremantle January 1917.

Whilst in Fremantle he went absent without leave (A.W.O.L.) until June 1917 before finally embarking for overseas service, arriving in England in August 1917 with the 25 reinforcements of 16 Battalion.

During his time in Perth, Edwin married Lillian in 1917 with Robert born in the following year of 1918. By this time Robert’s father was now in England with the A.I.F.

In December 1917 Robert’s father was declared an “Illegal Absentee” A.W.O.L. who had made his way to Wales to work in the coal mines. Wales was where Edwin was born.It was in Wales that Robert’s father met his death in a coal mine accident in about 1923.

Robert’s mother Lillian remarried in Fremantle in 1921 to Charles Frederick Jeffries with Robert taking his stepfather’s surname. He had two half siblings, a sister Lauretta, and a brother Frank.

Robert lived in Cottesloe and after his schooling years he was employed as a Clerk by the Child Welfare Department in Hay Steet Perth.

He served part time with the 13th Field Company Engineers with the rank of Sergeant for four years.

Robert enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) at Perth in September 1940 where he was attached to train as aircrew in November 1940.

He conducted his training at Essendon Victoria and Wagga Wagga New South Wales as a pilot, receiving his wings in March 1941.

In May 1941 Robert was discharged from the R.A.A.F. and granted a commission to Pilot Officer, embarking for overseas service in July 1941.

In August 1941 he was transferred to 112 Squadron Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) a fighter squadron flying P40 Tomahawks, stationed in North Africa, fighting against Rommel’s Afrika Korp.

Roberts first flight with the squadron was on 11 August 1941 and by November he was promoted to Flying Officer.

It was on 12 December 1941 at 1530 hours that eight P40 Tomahawks from 112 squadron took off to conduct an offensive swept over the villages of Derna and Tmimi, Libya.

It was at 1600 hours when the Tomahawks were over Tmimi when they engaged in aerial combat with German Me109’s and Italian M.202’s fighter planes.

During this aerial combat 112 Squadron pilots claimed credit for destroying three Me 109’s and one M.200. It was during this flying battle that Robert was shot down along with another 112 Squadron pilot.[1]

Flying Officer Robert James Daniel Jeffries service number 406179 of R.A.A.F. attached to 112 squadron R.A.F. was killed in action on 12 December 1941 in flying operation over Tmimi Libya. He was 23 years of age.

Robert was credited with a damaged German Messerschmitt BF110 twin engine fighter and a shared destroyed of an Italian Fiat CR.42 Falco fighter biplane.

Robert has no known grave, recorded as missing in action and he is commemorated on the Alamein War Memorial.He is remembered with honour.

[1] Biplane Fighter Aces Italy. www.surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/ 1st October 2025