Meant to post this for Anzac Day yesterday!

spidge · Apr 26, 2009

Captain Albert Jacka (VC) (MC*)

The History Channel in Australia has been showing a documentary "For Valour" depicting the 96 Australian VC winners.

Among those is the first Commonwealth soldier to be the recipient of a VC in the Great War.

It proves that even the courageous are not allowed to ruffle feathers.

From: HELLFIRE CORNER - Victoria Cross - Australia - Albert Jacka

JACKA'S V.C.-WINNING ACTION
On May 20, 1915, a 22 year-old Acting Lance-Corporal wrote these words in his diary:
"Great battle at 3 a.m. Turks captured large portion of our trench. D. Coy called into the front line. Lieut. Hamilton shot dead. I led a section of men and recaptured the trench. I bayonetted two Turks, shot five, took three prisoners and cleared the whole trench. I held the trench alone for 15 minutes against a heavy attack. Lieut. Crabbe informed me that I would be recommended."

This laconic account describes the action which led to the first award of a Victoria Cross to a Commonwealth soldier in the Great War. The soldier was Albert Jacka, probably the most exceptional fighting man in the Australian Imperial Forces during that terrible conflict.
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His first MC:

No sooner had they jumped up than two of Jacka's men were killed and every other man was hit but they charged on and belayed the Germans with rifle and bayonet. Jacka himself was hit seven times. Each time he fell to the ground he jumped up again "like a prize fighter", he later said, and ran on. After emptying his revolver, he picked up a rifle and bayonet and accounted personally for some twelve or more of the enemy.
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His Second MC:

About two hours prior to the attack, when the men were already lying out in snow in their jumping off positions, the Battalion Intelligence Officer, Bert Jacka, was crawling about in No Man's Land. He spied a German officer and an enlisted man who had a clear view of the assembled troops. Jacka raised his revolver to shoot but it misfired. He then leapt at the two and captured both of them, leading them back to the Australian lines single-handed.
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The (DSO) he did not receive:

In the battle at Polygon Wood in the Ypres sector where the new battalion commander was "conspicuously absent", Jacka became the defacto leader, co-ordinating and adjusting the attack which was so successful that it prompted Brand to send sent a note: "Congratulations, Jacka, I have recommended you for the DSO." The DSO was, however, not forthcoming and nor was any recommendation as it seems Brand realised that recognising Jacka's role would have meant acknowledging the absence of the battalion commander he had appointed,
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Jerome · Apr 28, 2009

Spidge, apparently there are 3 Aussie graves here in Port of Spain - do you have their photos? Let me know as I have to photograph some others for TWGPP

spidge · Apr 29, 2009

Jerome said: ↑

Spidge, apparently there are 3 Aussie graves here in Port of Spain - do you have their photos? Let me know as I have to photograph some others for TWGPP
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Hi Jerome,

Yes I have them. Duncan Richardson sent them to me a couple of months ago. If you are going there I would like a couple of shots of the cemetery if you can in Hi-Res.

Cheers and thanks,

Geoff

Jerome · Apr 29, 2009

spidge said: ↑

Hi Jerome,

Yes I have them. Duncan Richardson sent them to me a couple of months ago. If you are going there I would like a couple of shots of the cemetery if you can in Hi-Res.

Cheers and thanks,

Geoff
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Okay will do - as Hi res as my camera can go!

Adrian Roberts · Apr 29, 2009

I looked up Jacka's reference on Wikipedia because I seemed to remember that he was awarded a DSO at Pozieres, but I was wrong it was an MC. It is often considered that he should have been awarded a bar to his VC for that action, and that it was even more of deserving of the VC than the Gallipoli action. But I came across this passage:

The reason why Jacka was not given a bar to his VC has traditionally been ascribed to British snobbery towards a rough colonial. In fact Jacka was not recommended by his Australian officers in the first place.[citation needed] Gordon Corrigan in Blood Mud and Poppycock has identified why this might be so. The Germans easily infiltrated Jacka's platoon position in broad daylight without being challenged. In all probability the sentries were asleep or absent and Jacka should have ensured that they were not. While Jacka should be commended for his robust action in sorting the problem he undoubtedly bears a responsibility for allowing it to happen in the first place.[citation needed]
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Ok this is Wikipedia, but it does point out the danger of making assumptions. But even if the suggestion is correct, I would not in any way wish to criticise this incredibly brave man. Even if he did make a mistake here, then given the pressure which any officer in the frontline would have been under, plus being exhausted, I don't think anyone else is in a position to criticise.

Jerome · Apr 30, 2009

Spidge, hope to make it to the Cemetery next week. In the meanwhile, can you email me the data you have on the 3 Oz servicemen - the Aus. HC does not have many details on them. Ta

spidge · May 1, 2009

Jerome said: ↑

Spidge, hope to make it to the Cemetery next week. In the meanwhile, can you email me the data you have on the 3 Oz servicemen - the Aus. HC does not have many details on them. Ta
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Will do Jerome although it is sketchy as you could well imagine. Kyt chased up most of the data.

I will see what it all adds up to and see if we can add to it.

The High Commissioner may be able to do me a favour with a couple I have no hope of getting. I heard the HC in Denmark arranged some photos from Iceland and The Faroe Islands for another collector in Australia.

I will send the new list by country and see if he can assist with any. I would love to do the trip myself however the finances do not allow such a luxury.

Cheers

Geoff

Jerome · May 1, 2009

No problem Geoff, send me the file and will see how they can help locally.

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