Top 10 Interesting Facts about Albert Jacka

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Albert Jacka

Albert Jacka by Australian War Memorial from Wikimedia Commons

Albert Jacka was born in Victoria, Australia, on January 10, 1893. Nathaniel and Elizabeth Jacka welcomed Albert into the world at Winchelsea, a little village in the countryside. One of seven kids, he was. Albert Jacka’s family relocated to Wedderburn when he was five years old. He attended school in Wedderburn, and after graduation, he started working for his haulage contractor father.

1. He defended the Suez Canal

Suez Canal by Vyacheslav Argenberg from Wikimedia Commons

When the First World War started, Albert Jacka was employed by the Victorian State Forests Department. He enlisted in September 1914. He had his training in the camp in the Broadmeadows neighbourhood, a suburb on the outskirts of Melbourne, and was assigned to the 14th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Division.

He dispatched His Division to Egypt to guard the Suez Canal. At the conclusion of January 2015, they landed in Alexandria. Following ten weeks of training, the 4th Brigade was combined with two New Zealand brigades and the 1st Light Horse Brigade to form the New Zealand and Australian Division.

2. Jacka’s gallantry earned him the Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross by Enzo Calabresi from Wikimedia Commons

Then, the Division of Albert Jacka was dispatched to Anzac Cove in Gallipoli. On April 26, 1915, they made landfall one day after hostilities began there. The enemy took control of a sector of the trenches that were being guarded.

All save Albert Jacka was murdered or kidnapped as they attempted to attack the area Jacka’s crew was in charge of. After holding the trench alone himself and killing seven Turkish troops, the rest of his group withdrew. Jacka’s gallantry earned him the Victoria Cross.

3. Albert Jacka became a national hero in Australia

Albert Jacka by Australian War Memorial from Wikimedia Commons

Albert Jacka rose to fame in Australia as a result of the media’s coverage of his bravery. In the course of seven months, he advanced from lance corporal to corporal, to sergeant, and then to company sergeant major. He persisted throughout the battle in Gallipoli.

As allied forces left Gallipoli in December 1915, Albert Jacka’s Battalion was transported back to Egypt. Albert Jacka had officer training while he was in Egypt, and he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in April 1916. The 4th Brigade, 12th Brigade, and 13th Brigade were combined to form the 4th Australian Division as part of the reorganization of the Australian Imperial Forces.

4. He was involved in numerous raids against the Germans

The Western Front in France saw Jacka’s next conflict. June 1916 saw the arrival of His Division. He took part in multiple attacks against the Germans and battled wherever necessary.

Despite suffering more than 5,000 casualties, his Division was nevertheless able to take Pozieres. The Germans recaptured a portion of the line, including Albert Jacka’s underground shelter, on August 7, 1916. After his trench was blasted, Jacka emerged to discover several Germans collecting up roughly 40 Australian men.

5. Albert Jacka only had seven men available, but they took on the Germans and won

St Kilda Cemetery by Stephen Digby from Wikimedia Commons

Even though Albert Jacka only had seven troops available, they defeated the Germans. 50 Germans were taken prisoner when they recaptured the line. After being evacuated to England, Albert Jacka received a promotion to lieutenant in August 1916. He was given another promotion in March 1917, this time to captain. Jacka was recalled to combat. He was hurt, but he made a full recovery and resumed fighting.

6. In May 1918, Albert Jacka was discharged from active duty following a second significant injury

Albert Jacka was released from active duty in May 1918 after suffering a second major injury. He returned to Australia in September 1919 after a protracted period of rehabilitation. He left the military in January 1920, and upon his return to Melbourne, he was greeted as a hero.

7. He started a business that didn’t work out

St kilda pier by an Unknown author from Wikimedia Commons

Together with two other former soldiers from his Battalion, Albert Jacka started an import/export company in 1931, but it failed due to the economic downturn. Albert Jacka was chosen to serve on the City of St. Kilda Council in 1929, and he was elected mayor the following year.

8. Albert Jacka passed away from his combat injuries at the age of 39

Albert Jack’s Grave St Kilda Cemetery by Stephen Digby from Wikimedia Commons

Albert Jacka passed away from his combat wounds at the age of 39. Among other significant engagements, he bravely fought at Gallipoli, the Western Front, the Battle of the Somme, and the Battle of Pozieres.

9. Numerous places of interest bear Albert Jacka’s name

Several locations bear Albert Jacka’s name, including Jacka Park in Wedderburn, Jacka Boulevard in St. Kilda, and the Jacka neighbourhood in Australia’s capital city of Canberra.

10. Albert Jacka’s marriage

Albert Jacka wed Frances Carey at St. Kilda, Melbourne, in January 1921. She worked as a typist at his company. A daughter called Betty was adopted by the couple.

He became unwell, checked himself into Caulfield Military Hospital on December 18 and passed away from chronic nephritis on January 17, 1932. When his body was laid to rest at Anzac House, around 6000 people walked by it.

Over a thousand recently-returned troops led the funeral procession, which was followed by tens of thousands of people, to St. Kilda cemetery, where he was laid to rest in the Presbyterian section with full military honours. He had eight Victoria Cross recipients as pallbearers.

Australia’s current freedom is a result of the valiant deeds of troops like Albert Jacka. No legacy is more significant.