Veteran’s dog tags dug up

Jim Bancks with great nieces Dhana Stokes and baby Lauren Hunt. Photo by CPL Tracey Whiteside

By Flight Lieutenant Craig Johnston

SIXTY years ago, during World War II, Leading Aircraftman Hedley “Jim” Bancks, now aged 84, lost his RAAF identity disc.

Due to the eagle eyes of construction site personnel, some canny detective work from CSU at RAAF Base Amberley and a little bit of community spirit, the refurbished disc has been returned to him.

Jim, who resides with his wife of 64 years, Evelyn, at the Symes Grove Age Care Facility in Zillmere, Brisbane, was amazed that something that has been lost for so long, could be found and said that its return was both “wonderful and a reminder of why he was here.”

Maryanne Rowe, the centre’s Facility Manager, said the presentation of the lost disc brought back memories not only to Jim, but to other members of the Symes Grove community who served with the military during WWII.

The disc was discovered by members of a construction company, who were excavating the fourth tee of the Victoria Park Golf Course for the Inner Northern Busway.

Construction Manager Gerd Wimberger contacted RAAF Base Amberley Base Military Adviser Wing Commander Tom Buckham to see if the owner was still alive after all these years.

Corporal Belinda Hagen, of the Combat Support Unit at Amberley ,accepted the challenge of locating the veteran.
By using both the Internet – via the Australian War Memorial WWII nominal roll site – and the telephone, CPL Hagen quickly tracked him down.

Jim served with the Air Force from March 1943 to November 1945 as a Fabric Worker/ Machinist. He was based at Amberley and employed at the Breakfast Creek stores unit.

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