Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

A Fine Military Record.
Has any officer or battalion man any thing more fantastic to produce in the way of personal records than this: — John Henry Peck (reared in Grenfell), born 1886, studied at a half-time school in the backblocks of Australia; finally went to a Public School, then to a Jesuit college to study for the priest hood; relinquished that career, and then was successively boundary-rider, swagman, miner, cocky-farmer, travelling machinery expert, bookkeeper, actor, kangaroo shooter, and journalist; finally joined the Royal Australian Artillery as gunner in 1907; promoted Bombardier September, 1907, Staff Sergeant-Major 1910, Lieutenant A. and I.staff 1912, Adjutant 11th Battalion, A.I.F., August, 1914, Captain, October, Second in Command 11th Battalion, August, 1915, Brigade-Major 3rd Infantry Brigade, October, 1915, Brigade Major 12th Infantry Brigade, February, 1910. Appointed to raise and command 10th Training Battalion, May, 1916, Brigade Major, 14th Infantry Brigade, August, 1916, Lieutenant-Colonel to command the 14th Battalion, December, 1916; General Staff Ofiicer Australian Corps, July, 1917, General Staff Officer (First Grade) 5th Australian Division, September, 1917. Honors and awards: Eight special mentions in despatches, C.M.G. and D.S.O. Promoted Staff Captain A. and I. Staff for meritorious service; promoted Brevet Major for special meritorious service in the field; holds 1914-1915 star, British General Service and Allied General Service medals. Engagements: The landing at the Dardanelles, wounded, but back in seventeen day's (unhealed, escaped from hospital). Turks' attack, May 19, 1917; Lone Pine; evacuation of the peninsula; the Soniinc and Ypres operations, 1916; Fleurs, 1917; Bapaume, 1917 ; first battle of Bullecourt, April 11th, 1917; Messines, June, 1917; Polygow Wood and Paschendael, September, 1917; Wytschaete, November, 1917; Amiens, March, 1918; Villers Bretonneux, April 25th. Staff-Officer to General J. T. Hobbs, and wrote the order for that famous converging at tack (the Australian corps' attack, August 8th, 1918), closing operations, 1918. Age, 33 years.

COLONEL PECK
One of Queensland's most distinguished soldiers in the person of Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Peck, C.M.G., D.S.O., who was on the administrative staff of the Queensland military district, died on Sep. 2 at his home at Guilford Court, Wickham Terrace, after a month of illness. He was 42 years of age. The deceased soldier was attached to the permanent defence forces and had been stationed at Victoria Barracks for the past 18 months. He had a distinguished military record. He commenced his miiitary career 22 years ago as a gunner in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery. He received his position in the permanent forces in 1912. During the war he saw fighting in the heaviest zones, serving in Egypt, France, and Belgium. He was also present at the landing and evacuation of Gallipoli, where he was wounded. His valour and ability earned for him rapid promotion on campaign, and from the rank of lieutenant he quickly advanced to that of lieutenant-colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was mentioned in despatches several times and was also vested with the insignia of Companionship of the Order of St. Michael and St George.
At the termination of the war Colonel Peck was a member of the demobilisation staff of the Repatriation Commission, after which he was ad ministering the staff in West Australia. Organising and administrative work were his forte, and he was chosen in November 1950, to attend the Staff College at Camberley, where, in his two years of study, he secured the P.S.C. In furthering his studies he attended the London School of Economics and the School of Military Administration. Additional experience along these lines was obtained with Selfrldge's Ltd., Thomas Cook's Tourist Agency, the Commonwealth Bank, London, and with J. Lyons and Co., cafe proprietors, where catering methods were studied.
Returning to Australia about the end of 1922. Colonel Peck was made Director of Transport and Quartering Movements In the Q.M.G.'s Department, and while in this post he was loaned to the Treasury Department just five years ago, to organise the sending of relief to Japan on the Australmount. His excellent work In organising the transport of food supplies was one of the outstanding features of his career. Once acain he was loaned to the Federal Treasury, in August. 1925, when the Expropriation Board for the Mandated Territory of New Guinea was formed, and he was chosen as chairman. He left, that position to come to Brisbane in March, 1927 to become officer in charge of the Queensland military district. He was not only, a capable, but also a popular officer, and his death will be deeply regretted, both within and without the service. He leaves a widow and a little daughter.

MILITARY FUNERAL.
A military funeral was accorded yesterday to the late Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Peck, C.M.G., D.S.O., P.S.C., who passed away, after a month's illness, early on Sunday morning, at his home, Guildford Court, Wickham-terrace. The remains of the late officer, placed on a gun carriage, were followed to their last resting place, at Toowong Cemetery, by his widow, a large number of his fellow-officers, and other friends. Father E. Barry conducted the service, and Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Ridley, D.S.O., represented his Excellency the Governor (Sir John Goodwin).

Distinguished Service Order

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917
 

CMG

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 173
Date: 7 November 1918