LORD ASHCROFT'S "HERO OF THE MONTH" LORD ASHCROFT'S "HERO OF THE MONTH" Captain Albert Jacka VC, MC & BAR Captain Albert Jacka VC, MC & BAR CAPTAIN ALBERT VC, MC LORD ASHCROFT'S "HERO OF THE MONTH" & BAR The position known as Courtney’s Post had been established by the Anzacs on the morning of 25 April 1915, the day of the first AlliedJACKA landings on Gallipoli. Just over three weeks later, the Turks launched large-scale counter-attacks. In the fighting that followed at Courtney’s Post, one of the defenders gained the distinction of being the first Australian recipient of the in the First World War.

LBERT JACKA was born in historic landings at Gallipoli, landing to him undergoing life-saving surgery. o Lance Layard, Victoria, Australia, at Anzac Cove. His Victoria Cross was He is widely regarded as the greatest Albert Jacka Aon 10 January 1893. He was awarded for outstanding bravery at front line soldier of the First World confronting the the fourth of seven children born to Courtney’s Post, Gallipoli, where some of War, a man who could be terrifyingly Turks on 19 May 1915. (HISTORIC Nathaniel Jacka, a timber worker, and the severely depleted 14th Battalion had aggressive when facing the enemy. MILITARY PRESS) AGGRESSION his English-born wife Elizabeth. When been sent to support Anzacs who were , Australia’s Official War • • BOLDNESS INITIATIVE LEADERSHIP Albert, usually known as Bert, was under relentless attack from the Turks. Historian, said: ‘Jacka should have come u General Sir SACRIFICE • SKILL • ENDURANCE five years old, his family moved to At 03.30 hours on 19 May 1915, a out of the war as the most decorated William Birdwood Wedderburn, Victoria. party of Turks crept up to the trench man in the AIF … Everyone who knows (centre) shaking hands with After leaving school, Jacka occupied by Jacka and his comrades the facts, knows that Jacka earned the The many Victoria Crosses Captain Albert and George Crosses in the worked as a labourer with his and the enemy threw in eight bombs. Victoria Cross three times.’ Jacka VC, MC, of Lord Ashcroft Gallery at father and, later, an engine Three men were killed and all of the Jacka was the first Australian recipient the 14th Battalion the Imperial War Museum cleaner before, aged 18, rest, with the exception of Jacka, were of the Victoria Cross in the First World (left), after in London are displayed joining the Victoria State injured. The Turks then jumped into War. This distinction earned him the presenting him with a Bar to his under one of seven different Forests Department. He was the trench and most of the remaining sum of £500 which had been put up by qualities of bravery. Whilst for Captain Albert Jacka’s award is also a talented sportsman and he Australians fled. Jacka, though, kept a businessman for the first bravery during not part of the collection, Lord excelled at cycling. up a relentless fire on the enemy and Australian to be so honoured. the first attack on Ashcroft feels that it falls within On 8 September 1914, after thereby prevented their advance. Demobbed in 1920, Jacka married Bullecourt, near the category of AGGRESSION: the outbreak of the First Jacka was then asked if he would a year later, though he never fully the . ‘For many actions killing is the World War, he enlisted in the charge the Turks if some men could be He and 14 other men from the 14th Bill Jacka, who visited his brother at recovered from his injuries. After the means to the end. To prevail, The ceremony Australian Imperial Force (AIF). found to back him up. ‘Yes, two or three,’ Battalion were sent to relieve Anzacs the regimental aid post, left the ward war, he co-ran ran an electrical goods maximum force has to be applied. took place at Aggression is invariably fast and On 10 November, he was posted he replied. With three volunteers, and who were holding an advanced trench thinking: ‘I won’t be seeing you again.’ business and was later elected Mayor Ribemont on adrenaline fuelled. It epitomises to the 14th Battalion, AIF, as an leading from the front, Jacka launched under heavy German bombardment. However, Bert Jacka, despite even being of St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne. 12 May 1917. the idea of ‘hot courage’, acting acting lance corporal and on 22 his counter-attack on the mouth of the Early in the morning, the Germans reported dead at one stage, defied the However, he collapsed at a council (COURTESY OF THE AUSTRALIAN quickly in the mayhem of battle.’ December he embarked for communication trench. However, the attacked and swept through the Anzac odds and survived. meeting and died, just over a month WAR MEMORIAL; the Middle East for two soldier who followed him was shot three ranks. By now, only seven Australians Having been evacuated to Britain, later, on 17 January 1932, aged 39.  E00438) i A studio portrait months training. times and the charge was abandoned. were uninjured and Jacka himself had Jacka belatedly received his VC of Lance Corporal On 25 April Instead, Jacka asked one of the other been slightly wounded. at a Windsor Castle investiture in Albert Jacka. 1915, Jacka volunteers to keep up a steady fire while As the Germans began to round up September 1916. However, he was (COURTESY OF THE AUSTRALIAN took part he went along several trenches, crossed Anzac prisoners and wounded, Jacka resentful that he had not also been WAR MEMORIAL; in the No Man’s Land and then ambushed the told the seven fit men to attach their given a Bar to his VC for his actions at i Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is A03408) Turks from the rear. Jacka shot five bayonets, saying: ‘If we stay here they Pozières, which he felt were six times an international businessman, philanthropist, author and Turks and bayoneted two others, killing are bound to capture us and I would more demanding than his heroics at pollster. An account about all seven men. ‘Well, I managed to get sooner be dead than a prisoner. The Gallipoli – in fact, he was awarded the Albert Jacka appears in his the beggars,’ he said the next morning. supports cannot be long in coming. Military Cross for this gallantry. book Victoria Cross Heroes His VC was announced on 24 . Let’s go for them.’ Jacka returned to his battalion and even though Jacka’s medal Jacka was promoted to sergeant and With these words ringing in their ears, was awarded a Bar to his MC for several group is not part of Lord then company sergeant major while the men advanced at scores of Germans, one-man patrols at Bullecourt, where, Ashcroft’s VC collection. For more information, please visit: still in the and, after the shooting their rifles from the hip. In fierce on one occasion, he personally guided www.victoriacrossheroes.com evacuation from Gallipoli, he went hand-to-hand fighting, Jacka received British tanks into position. Yet again Lord Ashcroft’s VC and GC to Egypt, where he was promoted to multiple wounds as the Germans though, many thought his extreme collection is on public display at second in March 1916. He started to encircle the Australian troops. bravery worthy of a Bar to his VC. Imperial War Museums, London. served on the Western Front from 7 However, support arrived in the nick of Promoted to captain in December For more information visit: www. iwm.org.uk/heroes. For details July 1916 and again displayed quite time: many Germans were shot, 50 were 1916, Jacka was finally removed from about his VC collection, visit: www.lordashcroftmedals.com exceptional bravery at Pozières on 7 taken prisoner and several Australian the war by a mustard gas attack in May For more information on Lord Ashcroft’s work, visit: www. August that year. prisoners were freed. 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, which led lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter: @LordAshcroft www.britainatwar.com www.britainatwar.com