The Soldier's Details

Read of Jimmy’s talented Tenor voice

Jimmy enlisted AIF Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB –   ‘C’ Company, 12 Platoon. He was 34 years old when he enlisted, residing Greenbushes and recorded his father as NOK – Joseph Smith, Hamilton Hill.

He was AWOL at Fremantle when ‘Aquitania’ sailed for Singapore on 16 January 1942.  Please read about this incident.

Jim was sent to Java where he joined ‘Blackforce’ to fight the Japanese invasion.  Allied soldiers were taken POWs of Japan 8 Mar 1942.

He was selected to work on the Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway with  ‘A’ Force Java Party No. 4, Williams Force. Please read about this work Force.

Williams Force was to endure a particularly hard life on the railway.  The bulk of the POWs were from 2/2nd Pioneers, an engineering Battalion which had been in the Middle East.  The Japanese were thrilled to have a work force with engineering expertise !  They were moved frequently up and down the railway, wherever there were problems, marching a whole night after working to be at the next camp to start work again.

There are no records of where the POWs worked – but we do know Jimmy was at Khonkan 55km hospital camp, Burma.  It is believed when the Japanese brought all the POWs working in Burma south to Thailand – Jimmy would have been evacuated from Khonkan to Tamarkan, then to Chungkai hospital camps.  The camps recorded for Jimmy are the movements of Java Party 4 Williams Force.

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Jimmy aged 7 years arrived with parents Joseph and Mona and siblings Mona, John, Ethel and Kate from Liverpool 1913 on ‘Zealandic’.  Joseph’s occupation was recorded as farm labourer.

(It is possible the family took up land with Group Settlement).

Jimmy would have received his school education in WA.

In 1936 he was living and working Duncan’s Mill, Forrest (believed to be Worsely area).  In 1943 he was living Greenbushes and working as a faller.

In 1945 Jimmy married Mary Veronica White.

In 1949 and 1954 Jimmy was residing 31 Mill Point Road, South Perth working as a painter.

They had at least one son – Norton J L Smith, who wrote to AWM enquiring information about his father.

Jimmy Smith died in Perth 11 June 1969 at Rivervale aged 63 years and was buried Karrakatta.

Unfortunately little else is known of Jimmy either before the war nor after.  If family or friends should read this, please contact us to enhance the history of this member of the 2/4th who volunteered his services to Australia.

Jimmy’s wife Mary Veronica (nee White) was born Bunbury 1916 to Robert White and Margaret Mary Campbell.  Robert White died Gnowangerup 1948 and Margaret White died also Gnowangerup 1957,