The Boy Who Went to War: Jim Haynes' true WWII story

Growing up during World War II

As a 13 year old butcher's apprentice Jim Haynes was desperate to join the Royal Navy when WWII began. At 16 his parents finally let him escape the slums of Nottingham. Jim served his country during his teen years, training in Scotland and Egypt before being drafted to the brand new frigate HMS Avon dropping depth charges on German submarines in the Atlantic and rescuing survivors of the sunk Tarifa. Later, in Special Forces, he fought swarthy, unkillable Japanese marines in the dense jungles of Malaya. Towards the end of the war his ship transported emaciated women and children survivors of refugee camps back to safety. In 1945 as Churchill celebrated Victory Day, Jim was just 20 years old and made another life changing decision - to carve a new life for himself in Australia, leaving behind his childhood sweetheart and his family in England forever.