Personal info

  • Name: Albert JACKA
  • D.O.B: 10th Jan, 1893
  • D.O.A: 20th May, 1915
  • D.O.D: 17th Jan, 1932
  • Award: Victoria Cross
  • Occupation at time of action: Lance Corporal, 14th Battalion (Victoria) 4th Brigade, New Zealand and Australian Division, Australian Imperial Force
  • Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
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Sources & Acknowledgements

Courtney’s Post, McLaurin’s Hill, north of Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli, Turkey 19-20 May 1915

19-20 May 1915

More details about:
The Gallipoli Campaign 25 April 1915–9 January 1916 

Early on the morning of 19 May 1915 the Turks launched a second major attack on the Australian and New Zealand positions, to try to drive the invaders back into the sea. This proved a costly failure. Their only success was to capture, briefly, a short section of trench in Courtney’s Post on McLaurin’s Hill at the northern end of 400 Plateau. Lance Corporal A Jacka, the only one of the men who had been bombed out of the trench left alive and uninjured, managed to bar their further progress but a first attempt to recapture the trench in which he took part was unsuccessful. However, while other Australian troops provided diversionary fire he then succeeded in approaching the trench from the rear and killing the Turkish troops who had captured it.

Citation

 For most conspicuous bravery on the night of the 19th-20th May, 1915, at “Courtney’s Post,” Gallipoli Peninsula. Lance-Corporal Jacka, while holding a portion of our trench with four other men, was heavily attacked. When all except himself were killed or wounded, the trench was rushed and occupied by seven Turks. Lance-Corporal Jacka at once most gallantly attacked them singlehanded, and killed the whole party, five by rifle fire and two with the bayonet. 

Supplement to The London Gazette of 23 July 1915. 24 July 1915, Numb. 29240, p. 7279

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