WANNEROO WW2 WAR MEMORIAL
SERVICE FOR 80TH ANNIVERSARY
END WW2 OR VP DAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2025
Below: a young Jack le Cras.
Wanneroo legend 99 year old Jack Le Cras OAM shared his story – a young naval sailor who was present at the signing of Japan’s surrender to MacArthur on board the USS Missouri Sept 1945.
The formal signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender took place on board battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Truman declared September 2 to be the official V-J Day.
ABC recording of Jack le Cras
And from the City of Stirling
World War II veteran Jack Le Cras OAM has been a driving force behind commemorative services in the City of Stirling and Wanneroo for many years.
As a new and young naval recruit with Royal Australia Navy on HMAS Bataan (he celebrated his 19th birthday the previous day) he was one of three sailors out 350 on board, requested to take an official Australian party across Tokyo Bay in a motor launch to USS Missouri for the signing of the surrender and end of WW2, 2 September 1945.
Their task was to transport the following to Missouri:
Australian RAN’s Vice-Admiral John Collins
Army General Sir Thomas Blamey
Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice Marshal William Bostock
Jack said all he was really interested in at that very time was the size of the US ship and the all the weaponry on board – nine 16″ guns. It was only years later he realised the significance of being present for this momentous world event.
In 1921 a memorial stone obelisk was erected in honour of the 9 local WW1 soldiers who lost their lives from Wanneroo. It originally stood outside the Post Office however was relocated twice before its current location.
Well-known local Wanneroo Legend, past President of Wanneroo RSL sub-Branch and past president of the Naval Association of WA Jack Le Gras OAM was guest speaker at today’s service.
In 1945, Jack, then aged 19 years (having just celebrated his birthday the previous day) was a RAN radar specialist and crew member onboard Australian destroyer HMAS Bataan, which was to take Australia’s senior military representatives to USS battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay for the official surrender ceremony 2nd September 1945.
He and two other sailors got in a motorboat and made the trip with their three passengers :
Australian Army General Sir Thomas Blamey
Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice Marshal William Bostock
Royal Australian Navy Commodore John Collins.
Jack to this very day, hasn’t the faintest idea why he was chosen – and at that time he really did not fully understand the enormity of this pivotal world event marking the end of World War II.
He said he was too mesmerised by USS Missouri – she was the largest battleship in US Fleet being 887 feet (270 metres) long and displacing 58,000 tons. She carried a main battery of nine 16-inch guns, each of which could fire a 2,700-pound (1,200-kg) shell to a range of 23 miles (37 km). Powered by eight boilers turning four steam turbines, each attached to a separate screw, it was capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots (35 mph [56 km/hr]). During the war Missouri was manned by a crew of more than 2,500.
Jack Le Cras was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) radar specialist who witnessed the Japanese surrender signing on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, a pivotal moment marking the end of World War II, and as an elderly veteran, he became a prominent figure in honoring Australian service and sacrifice, often speaking about his unique experience on the surrender ship.
You may well ask yourself how did this occur?
‘Exactly why he was picked to make the trip remains a mystery to him.
“I haven’t the faintest idea,” he said.
“There were 350 men on the destroyer and us three were chosen.
“One of them was a bloke from Mandurah, so there were two West Aussies on that motorboat.”
After the war, Mr Le Cras supported efforts to recover prisoners-of-war in Japan, eventually returning to Perth in December 1945.’
From the crew of the Australian destroyer HMAS Bataan, Mr Le Cras was one of three chosen to take Australia’s senior military representatives to the US battleship for the surrender ceremony.
He and two other sailors got in a motorboat and made the trip with their three passengers – Australian Army General Sir Thomas Blamey, Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice Marshal William Bostock and Royal Australian Navy Commodore John Collins
By Cheryl Mellor, 2/4th Vice President & Historian
This year, I was able to attend the Wanneroo War Memorial for the first time – in recognition of three soldiers from 2/4th MGB – and the only WW2 names listed on the Wanneroo War Memorial.
WX4915 ALBERT ‘BARNEY’ BARNETT FACEY was KIA during the fighting with Japan on Singapore Island. Facey, 23 years old died 15th February 1945 – same day the Allied forces surrendered to Japan. Albert Barnett Facey was the eldest son of A.B.Facey, Author of’ A Fortunate Life’.
WX16407 LACEY GORDON GIBBS was younger brother to Jim Gibbs. Lacey was 27 years old when he was POW on Transport ship ‘Rakuylo’ Maru sailing from Singapore to Japan when they were attacked by American submarines and sank.
WX8958 WILLIAM HERBERT GIBBS, known as Jim. He was 28 years old when he perished in the South China Sea Sept 1944 following the torpedo attack on ‘Rakuyo’ Maru.
The Gibbs brothers were on POW Transport ship ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sailing from Singapore to Japan when she was torpedoed by US Submarines September 1944. Although a small number of POWs miraculously remained alive for 4 days and were saved, Lacey and Jim were amongst the large number of men who perished.
Waneroo mourned the loss of their sons, the families knew each other well. The Community then was considerably smaller.
You can read further about Facey and the Gibbs brothers
I was most fortunate to hear Jack le Cras talk of his memories of being on the Missouri during the signing of surrender by the Japanese 3 September 1945 in Tokyo Bay. This year Jack hosted his final services before stepping away from the role, he reflected on an extraordinary journey.
He is a past-president of the Naval Association of WA and a past-president of the Wanneroo RSL Sub-Branch.
HMAS Bataan arrived in Tokyo Bay on August 31 1945, from Philippines in preparation for the formal surrender ceremony. On September 2, 1945, the ship was present at the formal signing.
Following the surrender, HMAS Bataan was involved in rescuing POWs and internees until November 1945, as part of the occupation force.
HMAS Bataan was a Tribal-class destroyer of RAN commissioned in 1945. It was named in honour of the US stand during the Battle of Bataan. It was too late for combat however was present for the end of the war. Bataan later served in Korean War and the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.
Below: From the air, Tokyo Bay with Missouri and small craft carrying Allied dignatories. The larger ship on the right is the Japanese Delegation.
Below: Onboard USS Missouri.
Below: The Japanese representatives arrive at Missouri.
Below: USS Missouri 1944