Lest we forget

Mercy Place Mont Clare residents and staff remembered members of the armed forces who served and died in the line of duty, ahead of Remembrance Day on Friday, 11 November 2022.

Subiaco-born veteran Jack Earnshaw

Now aged 99, Subiaco-born veteran Jack Earnshaw, who attended a commemorative ceremony at the home, is one of the remaining few Australians still alive, who served in WW2.

Aged just 18, Mr Earnshaw enlisted on 22 April 1942, despite working in what was designated as a restricted occupation – he delivered telegrams from the Subiaco Post Office.

It meant packing his bags and heading to Ballarat for six months training, where he qualified as a Wireless Air Gunner, before being sent to Sale in East Victoria to do further training.

“We were then sent to England by ship, leaving Sydney and eventually arriving in San Francisco where we caught a train to New York and then travelled on another ship to England,” explains Mr Earnshaw, who admits he was incredibly fortunate to survive many night raids across Germany during his time in the Air Force.

“During the night raids, we didn’t fly in formation, we went up on our own. The Germans used to send up shells that would explode, and it would look like a plane blowing up from where I was positioned at the rear. I’d think to myself, we must be the only ones left; it was always a relief to get back to base.”

Mercy Place acknowledges an important day

Mercy Place Mont Clare General Manager, Dorothy Wijangco, said Remembrance Day was an important and emotional day for many residents.

“Every year Mercy Place Mont Clare acknowledges the exceptional contribution of all Australian servicemen and women during our Remembrance Day ceremony, and in particular it’s a time for us all to reflect on the bravery and selflessness of our residents, who lived through and also served in World War II, including Jack, whom we all have incredible respect for,” she said.

“Our Remembrance Day commemorations enable many of our seniors to reflect on the war years and also remember those who lost their lives. It’s an important day for all of us.”