At age five, Jamieson's mother died of septicaemia arising from complications from the birth of his brother, and from then on he was looked after by aunts and then by his maternal grandparents.

After discharge in April 1946,[4] Jamieson worked first as a labourer and storeman at the Midland Railway Workshops, and became active in union matters until leaving the company to train as a carpenter and joiner under an ex-serviceman's scheme.

He held ministerial office in John Tonkin's government from 1971 to 1974, serving as minister for works and water supplies and also briefly holding the electricity and traffic safety portfolios.

It was reported that younger Labor MPs had supported Davies and considered Jamieson to be a poor media performer in relation to Liberal leader Charles Court.

[12] On 14 May 1960, Jamieson married Emily Margaret Male at the Holy Family Church in Como, with Ron Davies in attendance as best man.

[5] Jamieson was heavily involved in community service throughout his life – particularly amateur football whose state organisation he served from 1947 until 1986 as an executive member and later as president, although he was also a keen tennis player.

[14] He died at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, on 27 March 1990 after a short illness, and was cremated in Karrakatta Cemetery.