World War II veteran Jack Le Cras OAM, 98, has been a driving force behind commemorative services in the City of Stirling for many years. As he prepares to host his final services before stepping away from the role, he reflects on an extraordinary journey.
One day after his 19th birthday, Jack Le Cras stood on the hulking USS Missouri and witnessed one of the most significant moments in modern history.
As General Douglas MacArthur signed the document that finally brought an end to World War II, the Perth teenager watched on from about 15 metres away.
But he was a little preoccupied.
“I was 19, so I was more impressed by the ship than the signing,” Mr Le Cras said.
“It didn’t dawn on me until many years later just how significant it was. We were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.”
Witnessing the formal surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay was not the only extraordinary experience Mr Le Cras had on 2 September 1945.
The story of how he came to be aboard the USS Missouri was astonishing in itself.
From the crew of the Australian destroyer HMAS Bataan, Mr Le Cras was one of three chosen to take Australia’s senior military representatives to the US battleship for the surrender ceremony.
He and two other sailors got in a motorboat and made the trip with their three passengers – Australian Army General Sir Thomas Blamey, Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice Marshal William Bostock and Royal Australian Navy Commodore John Collins.
Exactly why he was picked to make the trip remains a mystery to him.
“I haven’t the faintest idea,” he said.
“There were 350 men on the destroyer and us three were chosen.
“One of them was a bloke from Mandurah, so there were two West Aussies on that motorboat.”
After the war, Mr Le Cras supported efforts to recover prisoners-of-war in Japan, eventually returning to Perth in December 1945.
He joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in 1951 and has taken part in Perth’s Anzac Day march every year since then except for 2020 and 2021, when it was cancelled due to COVID-19.
He is a past-president of the Naval Association of WA and a past-president of the Wanneroo RSL Sub-Branch.
For many years now, he has been the driving force behind commemorative services hosted by the Naval Association of WA in the City of Stirling, City of Joondalup and City of Wanneroo.
The 98-year-old has devoted in an incredible amount of time and effort to organising and emceeing these services.
His reason for doing it is simple – “respect”.
“I want the memories to be there and one way you can do that is by having a service,” Mr Le Cras said.
“Also, every now and then, you attract more servicemen and women.”
Mr Le Cras ran his final Anzac Day eve ceremony at Stirling Civic Gardens in the City of Stirling and the Battle of the Coral Sea service on 3 May. He still has a Vietnam Veterans Day service on 16 August at Stirling Civic Gardens.
Fittingly, he will host one final service in Perth in September to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II before he steps away from his role as an event organiser at the age of 99.
Mr Le Cras was recognised for his efforts by the City of Stirling earlier this year at a special morning tea held for him and his family.
“Jack is a remarkable man who has done so much to honour the service and sacrifice of Australians at war,” City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin said.
“I think it’s more than fair that he steps back from his work now and has a rest. It’s up to the rest of us to try to follow the extraordinary example he has set.”
