INTRODUCTION LOLA WRIGHT REVISITED JIM SIMPSON - THE NARIEL KNITTER SONG: Ultimo

JIM SIMPSON - THE NARIEL KNITTER

A story from the folklore collection of The National Library of Australia.

Jim Simpson is a big bloke, very forthright and with strong views on politicians and the others that run our country. Even though Jim was born in 1914 I have no doubt that he would still straighten out anyone who crossed him. Throughout his life Jim has been a knitter of woollen garments and is very proud of his achievements. When he was a youngster in the Nariel Valley (Victoria) Jim went to the local small country school and nine girls outnumbered him and his mate, the only boys. The boy's delegated task was the gardening, “We did all the work and the girls would pick the Pansies”. The lads rebelled about the inequality of the tasks and the teacher told them that if they bought their balls of wool and needles they could knit with the girls and then the girls would share the gardening. This suited Jim as he already had been taught how to knit by his mother.

As the years progressed farming took over the major part of the Simpson life until the outbreak of World War 2 when he enlisted in the Air Force.

After a period of training as a pilot Jim finally graduated as a navigator/bomb aimer and went to England in 1942 joining the Australian 460 squadron that was part of bomber command and flew the heavy Lancaster bombers. Jim's luck was not in as on his first mission over Germany on the 8th October 1943 his 'plane was shot down. A graphic description of this event is in the interview tapes deposited with The National Library. He was captured and placed in a prison camp but did not remain idle for long.

John Harpley and Jim Simpson displaying the blanket made in a German Stalag during WW2

Australians have always been noted for their ability to both be innovative and scrounge goods, and Jim was no exception. He wanted to make himself a rug and required the materials to do so. Wool was the first priority and he bartered cigarettes for old jumpers and socks that he unravelled and rolled into balls. The wool was well worn and “always full of lice” however the country lad persevered and finally had enough. Knitting needles were made from the wire handles of Italian Army 'dixies' (billycans) that had been straightened and sharpened by rubbing to a point on the cement.

Jim then knitted his rug with a map of Australia and the state coats of arms as a design, all done from memory. The blanket served him well and performed the allocated task of keeping him warm.

The white map section came from old Naval jumpers, and various other small sections from multi coloured football socks that he obtained from a Canadian airman along with other miscellaneous balls of wool.

The rug is large measuring almost two metres square and is quite heavy.

After release from the prison camp by the Russians (another story worth listening to) Jim and his rug eventually arrived back in Australia where they now both still reside at Upper Nariel.

John Harpley and I had a yarn with Jim Simpson in February this year (2002) on the recommendation of Jan Lewis, a poet from the Corryong in Victoria. We had asked Jan about anyone who had an interesting story and this led us to Jim's front door in the Nariel Valley.

Jim is a fine example of the Australian bushman who 'makes do' under all circumstances.