BaptistCare Gracehaven resident and WW2 Veteran celebrates his 100th birthday in style.

In 1945, 20-year-old John Donaldson was among the first Australian Army personnel on the ground in Japan after the atomic bomb landed on Hiroshima. Now, 80 years on, the Rockingham senior is getting ready to mark Anzac Day as a centenarian.

The World War II veteran, who lives at BaptistCare Gracehaven Residential Care in Rockingham, was born on 31 March 1925.

John’s daughter Denise Henden says her dad still remembers the “utter devastation” he and his fellow soldiers were met with as they set up a temporary base at Kure on the outskirts of Hiroshima.

“There were body parts scattered everywhere. People were dressed in rags and starving. Dad remembers he and some of his fellow soldiers individually helped with food as much as they could for some of the local people,” Denise said. 

When an earthquake destroyed the base overnight, John woke the following morning to find he had to fight his way out of a collapsed building.

“It’s always been a family joke that Dad can sleep through anything,” Denise said. 

“Dad thought another bomb must have been dropped. He couldn’t see anyone else as they had been evacuated. With nowhere to go, he was billeted to a golf resort for several weeks, which is where he learnt to play golf, before returning to the base in Kure.”

It was also while in Japan that John and a friend went missing for several weeks while out on an old motorboat they’d managed to salvage and repair.

“The boat broke down and they didn’t know where they were or how to get back, so they made their way to a small island. They were unable to contact the outside world and could only communicate with locals through hand gestures,” Denise said.

John’s mother even received a telegram saying her son was missing in action and his family feared he was dead.

“It was only by chance that Dad and his friend were down at the water’s edge trying to the get the boat working and a patrol boat went past and rescued them,” Denise said.

John’s parents had come to Western Australia from the UK. He was born in Northcliffe and grew up in South Fremantle. 

After leaving the Army in 1947, John enjoyed several careers, including working as a butcher and as a cray fisherman. He also worked for a trucking company.

John, who married his late wife Shirley Dorey in 1948, has three children, nine grand-children, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

He is not the only member of his family who has served in the Army. John’s son was a Pipe Major in the Army Reserves, serving with the Pipes and Drums for 45 years, and his grandson, great grand daughter and two great grandsons are Reservists too.

John moved to BaptistCare Gracehaven nearly two years ago. He maintains hard work and the three Ps – porridge, peppermints and port – are the keys to a long life.

Always a keen swimmer, John earned his Bronze Medallion as a 15-year-old. But metal was scarce during the war years and it wasn’t until he was in his 90s, when the Royal Lifesaving Society made a special presentation, that the life member of Spearwood Swimming Club and founding member of Fremantle Sailing Club finally received his souvenir medallion.

BaptistCare Gracehaven Lifestyle Coordinator Kim Jordan said John was known among his friends and the staff at BaptistCare as a quiet gentleman who loves his crosswords.

“It’s a pleasure having John as part of our community at Gracehaven. A keen gardener who grew beautiful orchids, John especially loves to spend moments outdoors,” Kim said.

John’s birthday celebrations included an afternoon tea with around 60 guests and a bagpiper playing some of his favourite tunes.

BaptistCare Gracehaven will be marking Anzac Day with a service attended by Lieutenant Kristen Bohlsen from the Royal Australian Navy and supported by HMS Sterling.