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JACOBS, Percy Bennett
| Service Number: | 406 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 July 1915, at Keswick |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Magill, South Australia, 12 May 1882 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Prospect, South Australia, 3 April 1945, aged 62 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Dudley Park Cemetery, South Australia Section TAK, Path 9, Site 0021 |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 406, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Keswick | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Corporal, 406, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Corporal, 406, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 22 Mar 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 406, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Eye Trouble | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 406, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), GSW chest | |
| 14 Jan 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 406, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Reason for Discharge being Medically Unfit |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Charles Campbell College
Percy Bennett Jacobs was born on May 12th, 1882, in Magill, South Australia. He was raised in the Magill and Norwood districts. Before joining the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF), he worked as a salesman.
It is documented in his papers that Jacobs joined the AIF on July 11th, 1915, at Keswick, South Australia, with his rank on enlistment as Private, which later changed to Corporal. He was 33 years old during enlistment. His next of kin was mentioned as his wife and mother to his two children, Hedwig Alice Jacobs.
Jacobs left Australia on the HMAT Geelong on November 18th 1915, for reinforcements of the AIF. Upon arriving overseas on duty, he initially served in Egypt, where Australian forces were trained and prepared for deployment to Europe. He was later assigned to serve with the 32nd Battalion on the Western Front in France.
During his time on the Western Front, he experienced the difficulties of trench warfare, including heavy shelling, muddy trenches, and physical and psychological strain. She served in an operation related to the Battle of Fromelles, one of the most disastrous campaigns for Australia in World War One.
On March 22nd, 1916, he had difficulty with his eyes when fighting in France and eventually ended up in the hospital diagnosed with conjunctivities. On July 19th, 1916, he received a shot to his chest. Finally, he sustained a contusion on his right ankle on June 22nd, 1917.
As a result of his wounds, Jacobs was eventually discharged from active duty on October 31st, 1917. The certificate showed that he had also been medically discharged from the AIF on January 14th, 1918, as he was deemed physically unable to serve. This led to the end of Jacobs' career as a soldier on active duty. He served 2 years and 40 days abroad, for a total of 2 years and 186 days.
After returning to Australia, Jacobs moved to Prospect, South Australia, with his family. Nothing is mentioned in his files about his occupational status after his return from the war.
Jacobs' cause of death is not mentioned, but on April 3rd, 1945, aged 63, Percy sadly passed away. He was buried at Dudley Park Cemetery, South Australia.
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