Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sergeant Jack Enright NX31830

Veteran of the Middle East, New Guinea, and Balikpapan Campaigns

Awards: Mentioned in Dispatches for Exceptional Service in the South West Pacific

Australia's Youngest Sargent in WW2. 

Jack Enright was born on January 8, 1923, to Archibald Enright of Sugarloaf, Gunnedah, and Caroline Coward of Wee Waa, New South Wales. At just 17 years old, driven by a deep sense of duty, Jack attempted to enlist in the Australian Army in 1940. Although initially turned away in Melbourne for being underage, he persisted, travelling to Sydney where he successfully enlisted by claiming to be 20 years old.

He was taken on strength on 13 October 1940 and quickly rose through the ranks. After just two months, he was promoted to Acting Corporal and transferred to the 3rd Battalion. His military journey took him to Dubbo in February 1941, and by April he had embarked from Sydney aboard Convoy US3, heading for the Middle East.

Jack trained at the Australian Corps Small Arms School in Gaza before joining the 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion on 3 July 1941. He took part in the Syria–Lebanon campaign, a challenging and intense operation that led to the Allied capture of Vichy French-held territory.

After serving in Palestine and Gaza, the battalion was recalled to Australia in early 1942 following Japan’s entry into the war. Jack departed Damascus on 10 March, travelled via Egypt, and disembarked in Port Adelaide later that month. After jungle training in eastern Australia, he deployed to New Guinea, disembarking on 9 October 1942.

In the brutal conditions of New Guinea, Jack was promoted to Lance Corporal and played a critical role in operations around Milne Bay and Port Moresby, often providing machine gun support under enemy fire. He once recounted to his son a harrowing incident where he broke enemy lines to seize control of a weapon under fire—a move that cost the life of a comrade who followed him.

Promoted again to Acting Corporal in June 1943, Jack was later hospitalized with malaria and temporarily reverted to Lance Corporal before being reinstated. In November, he was promoted to Lance Sergeant during the Huon Peninsula campaign, including the pivotal Battle of Sattelberg.

Throughout 1943, his unit supported significant campaigns across New Guinea, including Finschhafen, Lae, and the Markham Valley. In early 1944, Jack returned to Australia, suffering from recurring malaria and asthma. Despite health setbacks, he continued to serve, participating in the 7th Division’s march through Brisbane in August.

He furthered his military education by attending the School of Military Intelligence and later qualifying in the Junior Leaders Course. By March 1945, he was confirmed as a full Sergeant in the 7th Division and rejoined the 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion for deployment to Morotai and then Balikpapan.

In July 1945, during the Balikpapan campaign, Sgt Enright was wounded by mortar shrapnel and a sniper’s bullet. Despite his injuries, he refused medical evacuation and remained with his men under heavy fire. His bravery was noted in The Workers Star (1945), where Sgt R. O. Laurie wrote:

“A very good friend, Sgt Jack Enright, of the MGB, was unlucky to be hit on the first day, not long after landing. He is a section commander and they came under mortar and rifle fire. Shrapnel wounded him in two places on the legs, and a sniper's bullet got him in the shoulder. However, Jack refused to go back for attention and stayed with his men all day under fire.
You probably remember Jack. He's 23, and used to be a farmer at Gunnedah, NSW. He's a Middle East veteran and served in Syria and New Guinea.”

Following further medical issues including dermatitis and asthma, Jack was evacuated and eventually medically discharged in January 1946. For his distinguished conduct, he was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for Exceptional Service in the Field in the South West Pacific.

After the war, Jack returned to Gunnedah, where he had a son, John Gerard Hickey, with Marie Hickey. He later moved to South Australia, where he had a daughter, Tamarah Enright. Jack Enright passed away in August 2012 in South Australia, remembered as a courageous soldier, a loving father, and a man of unwavering loyalty and resilience.