James Sydney Truscott
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 Jan 1915 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 26 Sep 1993, aged 78 |
| Place of Death | Bedford, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 27 years, 6 months |
| Occupation | Miner |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Leederville, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs. Lucy Ellen Truscott |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX21822 |
| Date of Enlistment | 8 Jul 1942 |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit/Formation | 135th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
Pre War
Prior to enlisting was a miner in Laverton where in 1941 he married Lucy Ellen Powell.
War Service
James enlisted at Claremont on 8 Jul 1942 and was transferred toteh Northam based Recruit Training Battalion on 15 Jul 1942. On 21 Jul 1942 he was posted tothe 109th Anti-Tank Regiment in Northam before transferring to the 109th Anti-Aircraft Training Battery in Fremantle on 22 Jul 1942. On 31 Aug 1942 James was detached to the 419th Anti-Aircraft Gun Station. On 22 Nov 1942 he was transferred to the 420th Anti-Aircraft Gun Station.
He entrained for the Northern Territory on 22 Jan 1943 with the 5th Anti-Aircraft Battery (M) which had been charged with defending the Hughes and Strauss Airfields. The unit was then restructured and became the 135th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, and on 1 Jul 1943 James was granted Proficiency Pay. In January 1944 he was granted leave in Perth before returning to his unit in the Northern Territory on 17 Feb 1944.
On 16 Apr 1944 James was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital with Functional Dyspepsia, and two days later was transferred to the 101st Australian General Hospital. They diagnosed the problem as a Duodenal Ulcer on 16 May 1944 and evacuated James by air to the 121st Australian General Hospital at Northfield near Adelaide on 6 Jun 1944. On 16 Jun 1944 he was seen by a Medical Board and classified "D T" before being transferred on 18 Jun 1944 to the 110th Australian Base Hospital in Perth. On 14 Jul 1944 he was transferred to the 118th Australian General Hospital and was reclassified as "B1" (Constitutional D). This was confirmed by a Medical Board on 22 Sep 1944 and he was transferred to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge on 25 Sep 1944.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 250 Fitzgerald street, North Perth, sole cutter; 1954 - 1980 at 205 Roseberry street, North Inglewood, harness maker
Notes