The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Grace
- First Name:
- James Henry
- Nick Name:
- Jim/Jimmy
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX6258
- Classification:
- Cook
- Company:
- Headquarters Company (transferred to Special Reserve Battalion)
- Enlisted:
- 13.07.1940
- DOB:
- 17.05.1917
- Place of Birth:
- Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- John Joseph Grace
- Mothers's Name:
- Catherine Gladys Grace
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Diamond Driller
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Panel 136, Age 24.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- South‐West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
JImmy enlisted 13 July 1940 and joined 2/4th Headquarters Company Platoon 3 Administrative. He trained at Woodside SA and Darwin before boarding ‘Aquitania’ at Sydney to sail to Fremantle, where 2/4th reinforcements boarded before sailing to Singapore.
At Singapore Jim was transferred to ‘E’ Company which was made up mostly of reinforcements. ‘E’ Company ran into a Japanese ambush at South West Bukit Timah on 11th February 1942. Tragically Jim was one of the many killed during this ambush. Only 88 men survived of the original 200.
Please read further about ‘E’ Company
Jimmy Grace married Thelma Rose Dunham of Lake Grace about 1939 at East Coolgardie.
The Grace family resided at 29 Ardath Street, Kalgoorlie.
Jimmy’s death at the age of 25 left a young widow and his son Jimmy.
Below: Thelma Denham celebrates her 21st birthday with her family in Lake Grace 1 Dec 1938.
Above: Grace’s brother Lou returns home safely.
Kings Park Avenue of Honour.
Thelma remarried 1948 to Alick James Algar.
