The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Till
- First Name:
- James John
- Nick Name:
- Jim or Jimmy
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Regimental #:
- WX9382
- Company:
- ‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion, No. 2 Platoon, Commanding Officer.
- Enlisted:
- 27.11.1940
- DOB:
- 19.07.1914
- Place of Birth:
- Guildford, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- George Phillip Till
- Mothers's Name:
- Edith Mary Till
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Regular Soldier
- Memorial:
- Kranji War Cemetery, Plot 28, Row C, Grave 20, Age 27.
- Cause of Death:
- Died of Wounds
- Place of Death:
- South-West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 13.02.1942
- Buried:
- Where killed on 21.12.1942
General Description
Lt. J Till was transferred to Special Reserve Battalion, becoming Commanding Officer of No. 2 Platoon.
This Officer rushed at a Japanese light automatic section, the same one that had killed Lieutenant Harry Green at close range. Lieutenant Till was wounded in his shoulder and pulled back by Sergeant Norm Platts to a position where his wounds could be treated. It is believed that in the confusion of the ambush and during withdrawal from the area that Lieutenant Till came across some more Japanese. His body was discovered at the crossing of a creek and Reformatory Road at Map Reference 763139 by the burial party led by Major Bert Saggers from Sime Road Camp on 21.12.1942. This was near where today’s Ngee Ann Polytechnic Alumni Clubhouse stands.
His body was after the war, moved to Kranji War Memorial.
Major Saggers said “Lt. (Jimmy) J.J. Till’s last known action was, although wounded, to rush a Jap L.A. section and shoot its entire crew with his Bren gun”.
Wally Holding said of Jimmy Till “hell of nice bloke.”
From Singapore’s Historic Tours ……..
Please read the story of Jimmy Till
Height 5′ 10 1/4″
Jim’s parents George Phillip Till (b. Liverpool, England) and Edith Mary Morley (b. Katanning, WA) married 1913 Swan Valley. Their first child and son, James John was born 1914 Guildford.
Edith Till’s mother died May 1914.
George Till who was a fitter, enlisted with AIF WW1 August 1915. Service No. 9128, George joined 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, as a driver. He was injured, returned to England for treatment, however was invalided to WA 17 March 1917 and discharged 18 June 1917. George received a pension.
