Family’s proud legacy
Whether it’s her family’s history of service, or her longstanding charitable work through Legacy, ANZAC Day always offers a special time of reflection for Amy James.
Mrs James, who resides at Rowes Bay Residential Aged Care, moved to Townsville from Rockhampton as World War 2 raged across the globe.
“My father was an ANZAC but my mother passed away when I was five weeks old, so it was just me and him,” Mrs James said.
“I left school at about 13 years old and got married when I was 18 – we got married during the war in 1944.”
Mrs James’ husband, Walter, saw the front lines of the Pacific war effort during the Japanese invasion of Papua New Guinea.
“My husband was a sniper in the army and was deployed to New Guinea on Bougainville Island, it was lucky he came back.”
Despite being the sole carer for their daughter during the difficult time when her husband was serving overseas, Mrs Jamesstill managed to find the time to work with Legacy to support the defence community. “When he left, that’s when I really got into work and got into things with Legacy.
“It wasn’t easy, and I was raising our daughter, but we just had to take one day at a time while they were away.”
Walter lived into his 60s, and the couple raised seven children and many, many more grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
“It took a toll on him and he wasn’t the same man when he got back, neither was my father because he was in Gallipoli,” Mrs James said.
“My son-in-law was in Vietnam and when he came back, he gave his medal to me – it meant so much.”