Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Jim was born in Proserpine on 9th February, 1921 to an old Proserpine family, his parents being Robert & Jessie, nee Scott. He attended Proserpine State School & transferred to Sandgate State School when the family returned to Brisbane. Afterwards he attended the Brisbane Boys & the the Gatton College. Upon leaving school Jim worked as a Pan Boy at the Proserpine Sugar Mill.
When it appeared like Australia might become involved in WW2, Jim joined the 31st Militia in 1939 & attended the 1st camp at Miowera. He stayed in the militia until he enlisted 29th April, 1941 in Townsville. He was assigned to the 2/15th Battalion & trained in Redbank.
On 1st September, 1941 he embarked from Sydney for the Middle East, however on 8th February, 1942 they embarked from the Middle East for Australia.
31st August. 1942 embarked from Brisbane for New Guinea where they were kept as reserves at Pom Pom Park at the bottom of the Owen Stanley Range, behind Port Moresby. They returned to Australia 24th January. 1943 & retrained on the Atherton Tablelands. On 19th July, 1943 they returned To New Guinea aboard the Duntroon & were sent to Lae. They served in the Ramu & Markham Valleys which had a high rate of sickness & maleria. Jim was affected badly with malaria & was given a large amount of liquid quinine which was to later cause severe deafness. Aboard Kanimbla they returned to Townsville arriving on 31st January, 1944. On 4th December, 1944 he was promoted to Corporal. Due to the high rate of sickness among the men, they were downgraded to D class troops. However on June 6th, 1945 they embarked from Townsville aboard Howell Lykes, disembarking in Morotai. The war was coming to an end but fighting continued throughout the South Pacific. The battalion served in Borneo & on 24th August, 1945 he was promoted to Sergeant. They successfully bought in Japanese soldiers for surrender when peace was declared on 15th August, 1945. Finally on 24th March, 1946 Jim was discharged. He returned to the Proserpine Sugar Mill where he stayed for 35 years.
He married Doris (Dorrie) Rogers in Bowen in 1951. He was President of the Proserpine sub branch RSL for a total of 18 years, 15 of which were consecutive years.
By his death on 12th November, 1995, aged 74 years, he was survived by his brother Malcolm, children Bob, Jamie & Julie, & their children. His wife & children Marilyn & Malcolm predeceased him. His funeral took place on Wednesday, November 15 at St James Uniting Church, Pastor N Hill officiating .