Our Unsung Hero - by Patricia Romeril (nee Wilson)

My favourite photos of Poppy Joe - a young JJC, with his beloved Kate, his family, his last years!

My unsung hero is renowned in many circles, even by a generation that never met him.  Tales of his courage, kindness, humour and fortitude have been related again and again.  

John James Charles Wilson was born the eldest son of a well-known North Shore family in the year 1892.  His love of music caused his father to turn him out at the age of 14.  Never daunted he found refuge with his music teacher, who lived across the road, and when his dad went to work, he slipped back home to sing and play to his mother, Ann Jane.  This love of music lasted all his lifetime.  Wherever he went he tucked his sheet music under his arm just in case.  He learnt the bricklaying trade and travelled New South Wales in search of work.

When World War 1 broke out, he answered the call for volunteers, joined the A.I.F in March 1916, married his sweeetheart, Kate in May, and the next week sailed for France.  

On the troop ship he became the lightweight boxing champion 

and in the two and a half years he spent in France, he earned the Military Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches for bravery. 

 He never spoke of these deeds, but his array of friends invented many a humorous reason why he received them.  His war records are available here.

On his return in 1919 he applied for a Soldier's Settlement in the Riverina at Yenda .... where after many setbacks he realised he wasn't a farmer and came to Sydney with his ever-growing young family, where he built a house in Five Dock.  There the depression caught up with him again.  The bank foreclosed on his castle, but never daunted he moved his brood to Narrabeen Lakes, where he brought a block of land with his remaining money.  Here he carved a home out of the wilderness.  The nucleus of this home was a tent and by bartering he managed to keep adding to the structure until, with the help of the vines he has planted, they had a home to be proud of.

57 Rickard Road now

Here his pioneer spirit and adventurous nature and resourcefulness came to the fore ... he planted vegetables and flowers ... he traded for a cow and an old horse and cart with which he carted his produce all over the district.  His wares became famous, people coming from the suburbs to buy.  He was satisfied ... because his beloved wife and nine children were sheltered from strife, the world in depression hardly ruffled their life.

He worked long and hard, building when work came his way, but still found time to form Narrabeen's first swimming club on the lake.  Because they lived so close to the beach and lake he taught all his children to swim in a most unorthodox way, which never affected their love of swimming.  They were encouraged to obtain the bronze medallion.  

Wilson girls in swimming competitions

Joe, as he was affectionately known by all who knew him believed in cutting corners, so when one child had to have a tonsillectomy, he said "one in all in", and as he marched his whole tribe up the hill to Manly Hospital he promised them a tram ride down and an ice cream each.  After the operations the kids were put into beds, top to toe, where Joe tended them lovingly until it was time to go home.  He kept his promise and looking at his pallid brood, all licking ice-cream, he was thankful they all survived until one child threw up, starting a cavalcade of chain events.

Their home was short on material possessions but long on love, security, plenty to eat and lots of laughter, every night Kate played the piano and encouraged the clan to gather around to sing.  Joe's only vice was his tobacco and he was rarely ever without a very thin "roll your own" stuck on his llip, but always a week or two before Christmas and each birthday, he seemed to be content to chew a match, and every child had the thrill of a surprise on his or her special day.  Boiled lollies or broken biscuits or maybe a couple of humbugs, acid drops or a licorice strap brought squeals of delight.

As Australia was recovering from the depression, the dark clouds from Europe brought about the family's major upheaval.  The three older boys joined the forces, so Joe coloured his silver tips with black shoe polish, and went to join up too ... much to his disgust he was sent to Cowra to guard the Italian P.O.W.s, but never daunted, he applied himself to obtaining the best for his country from his situation. Cowra P.O.W. information can be found here.  With the help of the local R.S.L. he hassled the Federal Government to allow the land-loving Italians to grow vegetables for the hungry people ... result a contented camp.

This article is in Pop's diary - unfortunately the articles are not references with date etc.  I am working with Cowra Museum to assist in referencing them.

Concerned for the morale of the surrounding country folk, he became involved in the formation of a Concert Party, and travelled the district entertaining the war weary with good music and laughter.  The profits from these were channelled into the war effort.  

On transfer to Sydney he continued his involvement and obtained a full library for the 22nd Garrison.

After discharge he returned home and to bricklaying, but Kate, his wife of 48 years became an invalid. He refused to hospitalise her, tending to her lovingly, unselfishly and uncomplaining for 10 years.  

Some years later he lost his eyesight but never daunted, would go for walks along familiar places.  

This marvellous man's last act on earth was a positive one.  After a week in and out of a coma he passed away singing "Ave Maria" to the amazement of all the staff.  

This same unsung hero, who sang with great gusto many years before "The Entry of the Gods of Valhalla" in the Jenolan Caves when he was on his one and only holiday.

"Valhalla" was in Norse mythology, a banqueting hall in Asgard, where Odin received souls of dead heroes.

Asgard being the home of Gods and slain heroes entered via the Rainbow Bridge.

How about that for an ending!!

The above article was written by Patricia Romeril (nee Wilson) for the 1988 Bicentenary.

I am still in the process of trawling through the many boxes of documents Mum has left all of us for our enjoyment.  I am slowly sharing the stories, etc, and they certainly belong with all the family.  If any of these posts bring up memories, I would love to hear them.  Perhaps you could comment on the end of each post.  As we were a very large extended family, I am sure that each of us have our own special memories.  Sandra