Image right: Balikpapan, Borneo. August 1945. Members of the 25th Brigade who were part of the initial draft to return to the mainland under the Five Year Release Plan being farewelled by a comrade of Balikpapan. The three men had seen action in all the Brigade's campaigns since enlisting in 1939. Driver Cecil Doran of Hobart, Tas (right), farewells Warrant Officer Jim E. Prowse of Melbourne, Vic, Private (Pte) James (Jim) Newman of Strathfield, NSW, and Pte Bill Cauldwood of Brisbane, Qld.
Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day on 15 August marks 80 years since the end of World War II, after Japan’s unconditional acceptance of the Allied terms of surrender a day earlier. The war in Europe had ended in May after Germany’s surrender but the Japanese threat in the Pacific remained for several more months.
This photo shows members of the 25th Brigade who had enlisted in 1939 being farewelled from Balikpapan, Borneo during August 1945, including Private James William (Jim) Newman of Strathfield, 2nd from left (NX2341). These soldiers were being discharged under the Five Year Release Plan, having been among the first to enlist for war and had served on many fronts. The Sydney Morning Herald of 4 August reported that 36 men from NSW had arrived back in Sydney on 3 August. Sixteen had come directly from the battlefield while 20 had been in camp in Queensland.
Balikpapan, Borneo. August 1945. Major General K. W. Eather, Commanding Officer of the 25th Brigade has a few farewell words with some of the members of his Brigade who enlisted in 1939 and who are to return to the mainland for discharge under the Five Year Release Plan. Left to right: Staff Sergeant F. Mothersal of Sydney, NSW; Warrant Officer Jim E. Prowse of Melbourne, Vic; Sergeant (Sgt) H. G. Lane of Armadale, Vic; Corporal A. V. Foster of Newmarket, Qld; Sgt H. Dwyer of Caulfield, Vic. Courtesy Australian War Memorial.
‘Men from Balikpapan left by plane at 7.30 am on Sunday and reached Brisbane in 29 hours. They had received from 10 minutes to an hour’s notice that they were being returned to Australia for discharge.’[1]
The men were given 24 days’ leave before being discharged. It is likely that Private Newman was among this group. The top image was published in The Australian Worker and Queensland Times.[2][3]
Australian troops storm ashore in the first assault wave to hit Balikpapan on the south-east coast of oil-rich Borneo, 1 July 1945. Courtesy Australian War Memorial
Balikpapan was virtually the last battle of World War II, having been occupied by the Japanese army since 1942 as part of the invasion of the Dutch East Indies.
‘The last battle assignment of the AIF was the conquest of Borneo. Its rich oilfields made a glittering prize.’ [4]
On 1 July 1945 thousands of Australian troops landed on beaches surrounding Balikpapan in an operation known as Oboe 2.
‘Australian Seventh Division troops stormed ashore at Balikpapan and quickly established a firm beachhead. The high ground commanding the beachhead area was captured half an hour after the landing which was preceded for a fortnight by the heaviest pre-invasion naval and air bombardment of the South-West Pacific war. The landing was the largest combined Australian operation of the war.’ [5]
Balikpapan, Borneo, August 1945. Vasey Highway - photograph taken after the capture of Balikpapan by members of the 7th Division. Courtesy Australian War Memorial.
Although Japan surrendered in mid August, after devastating atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it took some time for the news to reach isolated parts of Borneo and conflicts and casualties continued into September. Australian troops remained in the district until early 1946.
This image from the collection of the Australian War Memorial from 11 July 1945 shows Private Jim Newman sitting on a 500 lb Japanese bomb. Both he and Private Perrett are wearing Japanese shirts as their own had been drenched in a heavy shower. The photo was reproduced in newspapers including The Daily News (Perth) and the Newcastle Daily Herald and Miners’ Advocate. [6] [7]
Originally from the Grafton district, Jim Newman was officially demobilised on 4 September, returning home to Strathfield and marrying local, Priscilla Mabel Tate in 1946. They settled at Layburn at 210 (formerly 146) Albert Road Strathfield, a house owned by Priscilla and formerly owned by her parents. Jim worked as a public servant.
Following the declaration of peace, a public Thanksgiving service was held at Strathfield Park on 19 August 1945.
The Australian War Memorial is currently marking the 80th anniversary of VP Day with an exhibition of photographs. See: https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/victory-in-the-pacific
Interestingly, Isador Goodman’s war-time composition New Guinea Fantasy will also be performed for the first time by Simon Tedeschi in honour of VP Day's 80th anniversary. Isador Goodman was also a resident of Strathfield.
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/isador-goodman
https://www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au/Council/Local-Studies-Blog/Isador-Moses-Isidore-Goodman-1909-1982
Private James William (Jim) Newman died in 2002, aged almost 93. His funeral service was held at St Anne’s Anglican Church, the same church in which he was married in 1946.
Lest We Forget
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Sydney Morning Herald 4 August 1945 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27925757
[2] The Australian Worker 15 August 1945 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146251841
[5] Sydney Morning Herald 16 August 1945 p.12 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17950229