Jacka VC - Australian Hero

Albert Jacka VC 

Date of birth: 10 January 1893
Place of birth: Layard, VIC
Date of death: 17 January 1932
Place of death: Caulfield, VIC

Albert Jacka was born on 10 January 1893 at Layard in Victoria. He completed elementary schooling before working as a labourer, first with his father and then with the Victorian State Forests Department.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 September 1914 as a private in the 14th Battalion. After training in Egypt Jacka's battalion landed at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915. Just over three weeks later on 19 May, with the ANZACs now entrenched above the beaches, the Turks launched large-scale frontal assaults against their positions. Some Turks captured a small section of trench at Courtney's Post. Early attempts to drive them out failed, until Jacka, taking advantage of a diversion created by bomb throwers at one end of the Turkish position, leapt in, killing most of the occupants. For this he was awarded Australia's first Victoria Cross of the First World War.

Jacka quickly became famous - his likeness was used on recruiting posters and his exploits featured regularly in newspapers, particularly in his native Victoria. He began a rapid rise through the ranks, finally becoming a captain in March 1917. Jacka having risen no higher has been attributed to his frequent disputes with superior officers.

Albert Jacka was the people's hero of the Great War. In 1919 he returned to a triumphant welcome as thousands lined the streets to cheer the first Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, at Gallipoli.

In Belgium and France he had won the Military Cross twice and many believed, with Charles Bean, that they should have been VC's. He was beloved by his troops but resented by his superiors.

In peace time he ran a successful business but then returned to battle for his mates and their families as the Great Depression threatened everything they had fought for. It was the hardest fight of all.
The man himself has been an enigma, until now. 

With forensic skill Robert Macklin reveals an extraordinary character - a very Australian hero. Available at Amazon.