JACOB, John Gilbert
| Service Number: | 1694 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Glenelg, South Australia, Australia, 22 February 1896 |
| Home Town: | Kensington Gardens, Burnside, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide High School |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 7 July 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Roll (New), Adelaide High School Great War Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Magill Honour Board, Tusmore Burnside District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 1694, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 1694, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed
From Adelaide High School Magazine, Christmas 1916 p 11-15
Extract of letter from Pte. Gilbert Jacob, 50th Battalion.
"Having a short holiday from drill and fighting, I have a chance to write to some of
my friends. It is a splendid experience to be wounded and taken to a beautiful hospital i
'Blighty' and treated with kindness again, especially when one's wounds heal up so well as
mine. Of course, there is terrible suffering in the hospital, as on the battlefield, but it is good
to see the pity by which the brave men are helped to endure. Now I am on furlough in
Scotland, and getting enough fresh air to last till peace comes again. I have to go back to the
trenches, but there is nothing there to fear. Amongst these great hills I have been reminded
afresh that God is our shield and our sword. We realize more and more how much we owe to
the High school, and our debt is for something more than a knowledge of drill or geography.
When we think of the assemblies we used to have and remember the prayer we used to sing
so often we realize the truth of the motto, "Non scjholae sed vitae ," and for this life more
than all , in face of the enemy and far away from home. When we look back on all the loving
comrades with whom we used to work and sing and pray it is easy to go back to duty, even in
france, with a light heart. When I was in France last time I was very glad to hear the boys
have been doing so well at football. I hope they will stick to it. I heard that the same day I
met my brother De. - a great day - just just a week before I was wounded. I saw Charlie Tiver
last week for a few minutes, but I can't tell you much news about any of the other Old Boys;
but it is always a great pleasure to meet them. I only hope that the new boys will not have to
fight, but shall labour in the foundations of a lasting peace."
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