ROYCROFT , James William George
| Service Number: | VX44245 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 July 1940, Enlisted at Caulfield, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/14th Field Regiment |
| Born: | Flowerdale, Victoria, Australia, 17 March 1915 |
| Home Town: | Flowerdale, Murrindindi, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Camperdown, Victoria, 29 May 2011, aged 96 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Sergeant, VX44245, 2nd/14th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Caulfield, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sergeant, VX44245, 2nd/14th Field Regiment | |
| 15 Nov 1945: | Discharged Sergeant, VX44245, 2nd/14th Infantry Battalion | |
| 15 Nov 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sergeant, VX44245, 2nd/14th Field Regiment | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Sergeant, VX44245, 2nd/14th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour James William George Roycroft 's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Joseph Roycroft and Annie Emma Roycroft nee Callender and was one of a family of seven children who grew up on a dairy farm. It was here where he learnt to ride horses
Husband of Mavis Ruby Roycroft nee Jones and father of Barry, Wayne and Clarke. Bill and Mavis married in 1943c while he was on leave from the Australian Army. Mavis passed away in August 2007
After the war he moved to a Soldier Settlement block near Camperdown, Victoria where he and Mavis set up a dairy farm. It was here his horse riding resumed and trained the horses and his sons to ride while Mavis a well known horsewoman selected the horses.
Bill was a member of the 1960 Olympic Equestrain Team at Rome. As part of there pre Olympic lead up the team competed at Badmington, England which Bill won and became the first Australian to do so.
At the Rome Olympics Bill who had broken his collarbone the day before discharged himself from hospital to ride in the final day of competition. Thus securing the Gold Medal for the Australian Team. Bill later competed in the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City and 1976 Montreal Olympics
In 1968 he was honoured with being Flag Bearer for the Australia Olympics and in 1980 he was the Australian Equestian Team Manager
Awards: 1969 Order of the British Empire; 1978 the Order of Merit from Australian Olympic Committee; 1985 Inducted into the Sport Hall of Fame; 2000 Australian Sports Medal; 2001 Centenary Medal; 2011 inducted into the Equestrian Hall of Fame
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