LEGLESS MAN MARRIED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 11

LEGLESS MAN MARRIED

Inspired By Ace War Pilot

MELBOURNE, June 18.

Australia’s “Douglas Bader”— Jimmy Morton, aged 23, of the Melbourne suburb of Maidstone, who lost both his legs in a plane crash in 1955—was married this afternoon. He walked from the church with his bride, June Wisken, a 22-year-old nurse, on tin legs. Mr Morton had his legs amputated after a Tiger Moth crashed near Sale, 134 miles from Melbourne, on October 18, 1955. while he was doing national service training. The plane struck bad weather, hit high tension wires and crashed in flames. Mr Mortons’ legs were amputated three weeks later.

Since then he has undergone nearly 50 operations on his legs, and burned face and body. While he was in hospital after the crash, a Royal Australian Air Force chaplain, Air Commodore R. F. Russell, reminded him of the British war ace pilot, Douglas Bader, who had fought back to a normal life in spite of the loss of his legs. Then, on October 17, 1956, Bader himself strode into Mr Morton’s ward. Bader talked to him and left him determined to fight back. The R.A.A.F. welfare trust fund sent Mr Morton to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, London, to be fitted with artificial legs. Since his return to Australia, 18 months ago, he has learnt to play golf, drive a car, and to dance. He has also become a successful life insurance salesman.