1906-1974
Father
Robert Gray Lamont
Mother
Helen Heggie
Siblings
Robert, William, Andrew, Elizabeth Ferguson, Helen, Margaret, John, Bruce Ferguson
Married
Children
Peter Brian, Rosemary Heather, Gail Lynnette
Jim’s Life
Jim was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1906 to Robert Gray Lamont and Helen Heggie. He was the youngest of nine children. His father was noted from several sources as an engineer, boilermaker, ship peater, and iron fitter, all relative to the shipping industry in Glasgow. Helen Heggie was from Perthshire.
Jim, aged 20, embarked on the “SS Borda” from the Port of London on 12 January 1926 with his brother Bruce, aged 25 and disembarked in Sydney. Jim cited his occupation as a Storeman and Bruce a Plater’s Helper – they were involved in the shipping industry as was their father.
When they dis-embarked they might have looked down the Harbour and saw a bridge under construction. They found work there and participated in the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge which was opened in 1932. They gathered some money together and set out west.
Jim and Bruce made their way to Fifield/Tullamore and worked at various jobs often working side by side with both farming and stock work around the district particularly at Loomvale and Slapdown (Jack Strudwick), farm work, stock and horse work, mechanics, they were very handy mechanics.
Jimmy met Dolly Doust through these friendships but the burgeoning romance was interrupted when Jimmy joined the army in World War II, he enlisted in Paddington on 30 September 1941, he cited his next of kin as Elizabeth (Betsy) Stephens, his sister in Glasgow and his occupation as tractor driver.
Jim was assigned to ‘13 Australian Small Ships Company’, a branch of the Transport Division/Engineers. He spent his war in Queensland and the Pacific. The small ships and landing craft of the water transport groups provided essential support for troops in combat. They ferried troops to areas that the larger navy ships could not reach, evacuated wounded, delivered food and ammunition and took part in amphibious landings. It was very dangerous work. Water transport units initially operated in Malaya, the Middle East and later supported Australian operations from 1942 to 1946 in Papua, New Guinea, Bougainville, New Britain and Borneo. Jim exited the war with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 on 16 April, 1946. This is the highest rank that can be achieved by a non-commissioned officer.
Jim married Miller Adele (Dolly) Doust in Tullamore in 1947. Jim and Dolly purchased Loomvale, and continued to live in her family home and welcomed their children. Dolly’s mother Martha Anna Loomes/Doust had died two years prior to the marriage.
Jim and Dolly carried on the farm and Loomvale. They each had a healthy life-work balance, Dolly with her committees and Jim with his bowls and his music.
Jim was a founding member of the Tullamore Bowls club along with Jack Strudwick and various other members of the Strudwick/Doust family. They all enjoyed the Bowling Club – both on and off the greens. Jim was known to play the banjo, the violin and the bagpipes and used to entertain the club members along with Vaughan Younghusband who played the ‘Squeeze Box’.
Jim would also entertain family and guests with the ‘Highland Fling’, dressed in full regalia and completing the very complex steps.
Jim was repairing a windmill in 1974 on Loomvale, slipped and fell to his death. He was sorely missed by his wife, Dolly and their three children.
Authored by Rosemary Heather Lamont Byrnes, his loving daughter.