Australian Victoria Cross Recipient
Private John William Alexander Jackson
Unit
17th Battalion
Born
13 September 1897 at Gunbar, near Hay, New South Wales
Date of action
25-26 June 1916
Place
Bois Grenier, near Armentieres, France
Details
On the night of 25-26 June Jackson was one of eighty-two Australian raiders who entered the German trenches. Engineers with the party blew up two bomb stores and five minutes later the party withdrew after causing considerable havoc, but as they crossed no man’s land they suffered casualties from enemy artillery fire. Jackson got back to his lines safely, handed over a prisoner, and immediately went back out into the heavy shell fire to assist in bringing in one of the thirteen wounded. He went out again and was assisting a sergeant to bring in another wounded man when his arm was blown off and the sergeant was knocked unconscious. Despite his terrible wounds Jackson returned to his lines and got assistance, then went out again to search for the sergeant and the wounded man he had been helping in. One of the men was located and escorted to safety and Jackson was then dispatched for treatment. His arm was amputated.
Died
5 August 1959
Buried or Commemorated
Plaque at Springvale Crematorium, Melbourne.
Current location of the VC
Privately held
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