The life of Mr J.T. Finimore former, Mayor and local Dentist in the Ipswich region, is one of great interest. James Thomas Finimore was born in North Ipswich in 1906 and was educated at the local North Ipswich State School and the Ipswich Grammar School. In 1928 at the age of 21 years, J.T. Finimore graduated from the Queensland School of Dentistry. In 1933 he married his first wife Merle Graham Nellie Stephenson, who was the daughter of former Ipswich Mayor Alfred Tully Stephenson. For several years Mr and Mrs Finimore lived in their house at number 111 Limestone Street, Ipswich and Jim opened a dentist practice above the old Public Trustee Office in Brisbane Street. After being self-employed as a dentist for a number of years, Mr Finimore had developed an sterling reputation in the Ipswich region as being respectable, honest and hard-working.
Portrait of James Thomas finimore, Ipswich ca. 1939 – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
In 1940 after the out-break of World War 2 Jim Finimore attempted to join both the Army and Navy from which he was denied enlistment. However, later that year he successful enlisted as a dental Officer and was posted for a time at the Gaythorne and Redbank Army Camps, before he was sent overseas to Thailand to serve as a Dentist in the 32 Dental unit, “D” Force ranked as a Captain. During the war overseas his role was to treat Australian soldiers for tooth complaints encountered in the field. On the 15th of February 1942 Captain Finimore and the “D” Force were captured by the Japanese and were set to work as Prisoners of War [POWs] on the Burma-Thai Railway in the Changi Camp. In 1942 5,000 POWs, including 2,780 British and 2,220 Australian soldiers, were transported along with Jim Finimore to Benpong in Thailand via train. The journey took four nights with many of the men being forced to live in terrible conditions that included little or no food and irregular toilet breaks. When Jim arrived at the Changi Jail, which had been transformed in the Prisoner of War Camp, more than 61,000 other men were already imprisoned there. His job in this camp was to care for his fellow POWs in their time of need, however this was often difficult due to the appalling circumstances that he encountered during his three years as a prisoner. According Jim Finimore’s diary the conditions were beyond comprehension and the health and mental well-being of many of the men working on the line during this time was atrocious.
After working for a time in the Changi Camp, Jim was transferred to the Adam Park Camp, which apparently had an excellent dental surgery by comparison. During his time here he was permitted to travel to the closest town to gather supplies for the surgery. In 1943 he was transported to Tarsoa, Thailand where he witnessed some of the worst conditions experienced during his time overseas. He was again moved later that year to Tamuang where he had less freedom than he had previously been granted which meant much of his work was restricted to the resources on hand at the time, leaving much to be desired in the way of dental surgery. During his time spent in various camps throughout Thailand, Finimore spent several months in a camp with the great war hero and surgeon Sir Ernest Edward Weary Dunlop.
After spending more than three years as a POW he was finally released and transported to Bangkok in 1945 where he remained for a time before being discharged and making his way back to Ipswich. After, returning from the war Mr Finimore had what he referred to as a ‘difficult time’ settling back into everyday life. However, he did eventually resume his dental practice in the Ipswich area. In 1949 Jim Finimore was elected as an Alderman for the City of Ipswich. He remained in this position for one year before he was elected Mayor the following year by the people of Ipswich. At this point in time he was a member of the Labour Party, however after encountering some differences of opinion Mr Finimore eventually ran for Mayor for his second term as an Independent candidate. J.T. Finimore became one of Ipswich’s longest serving Mayor’s having served at his retirement from 1950-1972. Whilst serving in this most distinguished role Mr Finimore was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ipswich Grammar School, the director of the First Provincial Building Society, president of the West End Rugby League Club for a period of 25 years, chairman of the Ipswich Red Cross, vice-president of the Cambrian Choir and a foundation member of the Ipswich Rotary Club and Probus.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother with Ipswich Mayor, James Finimore wearing his robes of office, arriving at Queens Park, 1958 – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
In 1968 Mayor Finimore was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his service to the local community both for his work as a Mayor, businessman and charity worker. This was a highly distinguished award during this era and one that allowed State and Territory Governors to put forward the names of exceptional community members for nomination in the award. For a man that worked tirelessly for the betterment of the community, and one that was appreciated and loved by the Ipswich community this award was well deserved. In 1973 after serving 24 years as a Mayor and Alderman for the City of Ipswich, Jim Finimore retired to the quite life, but still maintained his position on a number of community groups in Ipswich. In 1989 at the age of 82 years J.T. Finimore passed away, but not before leaving a legacy of work that not only bettered Ipswich, but also touched the hearts of many Ipswich residents.
Information taken from: Ipswich in the 20th century by Robyn Buchanan; Queensland Times (18-02-1989; WW2 Nominal Roll website; Australian War Memorial website; Queensland Times 01-01-1968; Prisoners of War of the Japanese 1942-1945 website