James Arnot

Story

James Arnot 26/01/1913 – 23/04/2008 born in Coatbridge, Scotland.

He was one of 10 children, his mother married twice, so he was brought up by his grandparents who were miners strugglng to make ends meet. Jim was a good student who already in his teens was very much interested in motor vehicles, puchased a motor bikeand took part in races. He worked as a motor mechanic, and at the onset of World War 11 he enlisted and was assigned to Tansport Unit. In this capacity he went to France, but on the occasion of the German advance boarded one of the last ships – a Polish ship that was bombed twice but was still able to berth at Southampton. After a stay in Ireland, Jim was put on ships and sailed around Africa to India, and from there travelled partly on land working on repairs to military vehicles and driving higher personnel all the way to the Middle East, Jordan, Lebanon, Stria and Egypt. He was a poor sailr, and suffeed abdominal and bowel illness, had to be operated twice during the war and once at the end of the war.

Some of the memorable times of the war: Sleeping on te streets during the chaotic imes in France; the Irish leaving uncoverd lights in houses during German bombing raids; visiting the Taj Mahal; driving a General to India and staying in a good hotel; in Lebanon waterproofing vehicles so that they would have been able to withstand 3-4 feet of water during a possible invasion of Sicily, which did not eventuate.

After the war, Jim worked in his trade, but mainly due to inability to get suitable accommodation for his family (by then he was married with one child), he decided to emigrate to Australia sailing by a nice ship and landing at Wooloomooloo, Sydney in 1948. With an associate he opened he opened a workshop in Newcastle. His social life was also enjoyable; he made friends among his customers, visiting clubs with them, and even drank a bit too much, but soon stopped drinking AND SMOKING AS WELL. Jim built houses for his family. He was an excellent handyman and enjoyed carrying out repairs in houses where he lived. He survived his first two wives, had two children, 3 grandchildren and a number of great chandchildren. He had a very good sense of humour – “Why only one “t” in Arnot? – because we could not afford two tees” – a lot of funny one liners. Hewas affectionate, loving and honest person. He was also a handsome man who did not lack the company of girls. In his teens he escorted a pretty and nice girl, but they had to part regrettably when her family moved away, but he never forgot her.

His first wife was a good looking and capable girl who worked for a while as an au pair in Cananda. His second wife had artistic talent which she applied to various items she produced. During her working life she earned a living for herself and her children by travelling from school to school sewing school uniforms. Jim spent a lot of interesting times with her travelling around Australia in a car and caravan, and later remembered many times places they had visited, especially when they were mentioned on TV programs.

During the war, Jim had a brief romance with a very beautiful French girl which was doomed to end. During the last 20 years of his life he commuted and lived in Sydney with his third wife who survived him. They were very much in love, enjoyed going around. Unfotunately for the last few years he was plagued by loss of vision, which became acute during the last two months of his life, and he said that he would not mind to go as life had become too difficult for him.

Miss me a little, but not too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love we once shared

Miss me, but let me go.

< Back to the Stories