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Hedley James (Jim) Pluis, NX113876, b. 1919, to a Teamster, Farmer, and Engineman from Vychan, Eugowra. Jim worked on Vychan with his family doing farm works and learning Mechanics from his father. His interest in Motor vehicles and ambition to become a mechanic nearly killed him in 1938 when the bus he, and friends were on travelling to the Bathurst Car Race crashed over a culvert and upside down into a creek. Two broken collar bones, severe shock and many weeks in hospital the result.
Jim stayed about the farm until he joined the War effort, September 1941.
The ARMY recognized his background with Machinery and placed him in the newly formed armoured Tank group under the Royal NSW Lancers, and he became a Matilda Tank Driver/Mechanic, C Squadron, 1st Australian Army Tank Battalion. The Brigade left Australia, 1943, from QLD sailing to Milne Bay, New Guinea, from where C Squadron went to Finschhafen and successfully fought the Battle for Sattelberg alongside the Australian Infantry, the first Australian Tanks to be used in jungle warfare, and then, joined by A squadron, moved further north along the coast of the Huon Peninsula, routing the enemy as they moved forward. Returning home after the war, Jim met Zoe McKay, and they married at Forbes, 1947, he went back to working on the farm for a while and then moved to work on the Railway at Parkes. Jim became a qualified Diesel Mechanic & this assisted him to become a Railway Locomotive Driver, a position he retained until retirement in 1988. This position took him from Steam Engines to the most Modern Deisel Electric Engines and from Parkes to Ivanhoe, NSW, out as far as Broken Hill, Dubbo, into Sydney, Newcastle, Dungog, and Taree to Grafton.
Jim died in Taree Hospital on June 23 1998, aged 79yrs. Sadly missed by his beloved wife Zoe and their two sons and their families. Jim was laid to rest on the 26 June 1998 at The Bight Cemetery, Wingham, NSW.
Forever in our Hearts.
