Lance Corporal Albert Jacka

On 19 May, the Turks launched a general attack to push the Australians into the sea. They seized ten metres of trench at Courtney’s Post, but Australians at either end stopped them from continuing to advance. At the northern end Jacka, with several others, tried to evict the Turks, but was beaten back. It was then decided that while a feint was made from the same end, Jacka would attack from the rear. The party waited long enough for Jacka to circle the rear and then threw two bombs and gave covering fire. Jacka leapt over the parapet, shot five Turks with his rifle, bayonetted two others and forced the rest to flee the captured trench.

It was generally believed that Jacka should have been awarded two more VCs for his actions at Pozieres (which the Official Historian claimed was the single most successful individual action of the war), and at Bullecourt. A member of his Battalion wrote: ‘He deserved the Victoria Cross as thoroughly at Pozieres, Bullecourt and at Ypres as at Gallipoli . . . The whole AIF came to look on him as a rock of strength that never failed. We of the 14th Battalion never ceased to be thrilled when we heard of ourselves referred to . . . by passing units on the march as “some of Jacka’s mob”.’ (Richard Reid, For Valour, Australia Post Philatelic Group, 2000 page 13)

Education Activity

www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/jacka.htm