Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Deex, Jack Clarence
Service Number: 2853 / 2032 ( listed on some of his war record papers)
Born: Riverton, SA, 18 April 1892
Enlisted : Keswick, 8 June, 1915
Marital status: Single
Next of Kin: Mother – Mary Deex, 13th Street, Bowden.
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Church of England
Rank on Discharge Private
3rd Reinforcements to 27th Battalion
Military Service
Jack was the son of John Deex and Mary Guenessery. He trained with H Company from 8 June to 30 June 1915 and transferred to the 3rd Reinforcements 27 Battalion on 1 September. The Register of Thursday, 29 July, 1915 stated, “An enjoyable evening was recently spent at Mr. H.W. Deex’s residence, Bowden, to bid farewell to Pte. J.C. Deex, who will leave soon for the front.” His unit left Adelaide on RMS Morea on 26 August 1915, prior to being sent to Gallipoli, then served in France. Like so many troops, Jack went absent without leave for 3 days on 24 September. Jack sustained wounds to the buttocks and back on 23 May 1916 while in action near Armentieres, and was treated at the 8th Casualty Clearing Station and the General Hospital at Etaples. Army Base records in Melbourne advised Mary Deex of her son’s situation on 8 June.
He was wounded on a second occasion on 5 November, suffering a gunshot wound to his back. The Journal of Saturday, 25 November 1916, stated, “Mrs. M.Deex, North Adelaide…was notified that her son Pte.J.C.Deex was admitted into the 3rd London General Hospital on November 11 suffering from gunshot wounds in the back, which he received in France. This is the 2nd occasion he has been wounded.” Jack was sent to England on the Carisbrook Castle on 10 November and was hospitalised at Rouen and Havre in France, then Weymouth in England until 14 February 1917. His mother was advised of Jack’s second wounding the day after it occurred. At this time he had a reoccurrence of trachoma, a condition which had troubled him when in Egypt. He was returned to Australia on the Barambah,and disembarked on 5 June 1917. Jack was discharged as medically unfit for further service due to trachoma, on 13 July 1917.
Oddly, his service number was quoted as being 2032 on several A.I.F documents. His mother was mistakenly granted a pension until 14 February 1918, until Army Base records realised that Jack was still alive.
Jack received his British War Medal on 14 May 1921 and his Victory Medal at Lone Gum on 21 September 1922(1).
Life in Monash
Jack Clarence Deex occupied Block 294 on 1 November 1919, and Block 295 on 1 July 1926.The property consisted of 16.75 acres on which Jack grew oranges (vulnerable to frost), sultanas, muscat and doradillo vines. He had 2 draught horses to help with the workload. In 1919 Jack built a three- roomed house of concrete, which had wood and iron roof. The house was valued at 350 pounds upon completion. The block was bordered by Wright road and Lobban road, Monash(2).
Jack married Ethel Blanche Brandwood on 11 December 1920. They had three children, Gwenyth Blanche, born 11 December 1921; Gloria Fay born 5 July 1924, and David John born 16 July 1926(3). The Murray Pioneer & The Australian River Record of 3 April 1925 reported,“Mr.J.C. Deex has returned to his home at Lone Gum after having been called to town on the account of the death of his mother. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Deex in his recent loss.” Jack played cricket for Monash in 1924.David attended Monash Primary School in 1932(4).
Jack Clarence Deex died in Monash on 19 June 1959, aged 67 and was buried at North Brighton Cemetery(5).
References
1. National Australian Archives: B2455; Deex J C: Barcode 349079.
2.Barmera Berri Council, Berri Barmera & Districts Local History Collection.
3.South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages Records.
4. Monash Primary School Records.
5. South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages Records.