Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Jack Mitchell (Jack) Sinclair was born of the 7th July 1894 at Alberton, South Australia, the son of James Hugh Craige Sinclair (1857-1943) and Helen Close (1866-1948).

Jack’s father, James, was the Assistant Crown Solicitor and later a stipendiary magistrate in Port Pirie and at Port Adelaide, South Australia.

Jack was the eldest of five children. His siblings were Thomas Walter (b 1896), Grace Nellie (b 1894), James Hugh (b 1900), and Jean Lily (b 1902)

Education

Jack attended Kyre College (which became Scotch after WWI) until 1910. He played football in the Second 18 and according to the school magazine performed well in various other athletic events including the 150 yards run and the 80 yards walk. Jack also received a prize in 1909 for his academic achievements. He attended Kyre College at the same time were Howard Florey and Victor Richardson. He passed Latin in the special Senior Examinations in March 1911 while still at Kaye College.

In a newspaper report of the Prince Alfred College speech day in December 1912, Jack was included as an old boy of PAC who had passed examinations toward a LLB, however Jack's name does not appear in the PAC Chronicles in their WWI Roll of Honour. It is therefore unclear if or when Jack attended Prince Alfred College. Jack’s Adelaide University Registration card (below), records that he matriculated in August 1911. Jack was actively involved in Kyre College Old Boys activities while at University.

Adelaide University

Jack studied law at Adelaide University from 1911 to 1914. He was articled to Noel Webb (of the firm Webb & Kelly) in 1914 and had completed many subjects towards the Final Certificate in Law.

Adelaide University Sport

Football
An athletic individual of 6 feet in height, Jack played football for the AUFC B team in 1913 and 1914.

Rowing
Jack also rowed for the Adelaide University Boat Club.

War Service

Jack enlisted on the 27th August 1914 with Service Number 619. He was 20 years and 2 months old, 6’tall and 174 lbs with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He embarked on the HMAT ‘Ascanius’ on the 20 October 1914 and disembarked in Egypt.

He sent a letter back to his father dated the 22nd February 1915, from Cairo, Egypt, describing his visits to the Museum, Zoo, Bazaars and a Mosque.

Jack left Egypt on the 2nd March 1915 onboard the ‘Ionian’ and was with the 10th Battalion’s landing at Gallipoli sometime in the period 25th/29th April 1915. Jack’s service record states that on the 2nd May 1915 Jack was wounded in action receiving a gunshot wound to the right ankle. A later letter from Jack’s father to the University of Adelaide states that Jack was wounded on the ‘day of the landing’ at Gallipoli, 25 April 1915.

The first convoy of 600 badly wounded soldiers reached Malta on 4 May 1915, on HT Clan McGillivray. The men were under the medical care of Captain V Benjafield Australian Medical Corps (AMC). Of these, 160 severe cases were admitted to Valletta Hospital; the remainder went to Tigné Hospital to be treated as convalescents. Jack was with the group who went to the Tigné Hospital and he was later transferred to the St George Hospital, Malta. While in Malta Jack wrote to his father, expressing the hope that if Italy entered the war it would be over before very much longer. Jack was also mentioned in a letter from a South Australian soldier which was published in July 1915.

On the 1st August 1915 Jack left Malta and returned to Alexandria, Egypt onboard the ‘HS Karoa’, then returned to Gallipoli via the ‘Oxonian’ and rejoined his unit at Gallipoli on the 7th August 1915. Jack was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on the 1st September 1915. In mid October Jack had his first offence recorded on his service record. He was severely reprimanded for not obeying orders.

In a letter from Jack to his parents dated the 30th October 1915 Jack details some close shaves he has had while in action in the Dardanelles (see below). By the 20th November 1915 it was illness not injury which took Jack out of the fighting. He was admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance then to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Jack was then taken by the Hospital Ship ‘Delta’ to the British Red Cross No 19 General Hospital at Alexandra, Egypt. Jack did not recover from his bout of pneumonia until late in January 1916 and he remained in Egypt until 9th May 1915.

On the 9th May 1915 Jack embarked from Alexandrina, Egypt and disembarked at Marseilles, France. By the 20th May 1915 Jack was in Estaples, in northern France.

His Service Record over the four years records several bouts of influenza and other common illnesses such as trench foot and venereal diseases. He was hospitalised at least six times. He also had an interesting record regarding reprimands for being late to parade, insubordination and drunkenness and being demoted from temporary Sergeant to Corporal (September 1916).

On the 26th October 1916 Jack was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In mid November 1916 Jack suffered from severe trench foot in the trenches in Belgium and he was first sent to hospital in Rouen, France, then via Le Havre, France to England. Having recovered from trench foot he was granted some furlough then served at Brigade headquarters, Perham Downs.

Jack remained in England until October 1917. He was based at Perham (Wiltshire) then at Wareham (Dorset). From the 25th March 1917 to the 19th September Jack was with the 70th Battalion. During that time he was severely reprimanded for failing to appear at early morning parade. Jack then transferred back to the 10th Battalion and was based at Hurdcott, Wiltshire, where he was twice reprimanded, once for missing parade and once for being late for parade.

Jack left England, via Southampton on the 9th October 1917 landing at Havre. Shortly after his arrival in France he was again in hospital receiving treatment for VD. He was out of hospital by mid November 1917. Jack was considered but not accepted for the Brigade Mining Coy.

On the 6th May 1918 Jack was admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance with tonsillitis. He was transferred to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station then to the 25th General Hospital. Jack then contracted influenza and he did not return to his unit until the 5th July 1918.

Death

John Mitchell (Jack) Sinclair was killed in action at Merris, France on 30 July 1918, aged 24 having served for almost four years.

He has no known grave and is commemorated at the Villers Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France).

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy & Janne Filmer) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25726