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Jack, born in North Adelaide on the 8th January 1912 was part of Alfred Leonard and Mabel (May) Annie Weston’s large family of twelve children. (Jack was the tenth). Alfred, a railway ganger and the family were proud of their Australian heritage and positively supported the involvement of their sons who heeded the call of five of their sons as volunteers in both WWI and WWII. Jack’s siblings included Daisie Doris, Leonard Herbert, Alfred Lewis, Bertie Bruce, Leila Maud, Robert Hugh, Ida May, Mary Nightingale, Charles James, Jean Berry and Melba Nightingale and Arthur.
Jack had just turned three when the family learned that his eldest brother, 21-year-old 1586 Private Leonard, died on the 25th June 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during WWI, just seven months after enlisting. The following year, the family received further distressing news of 3494 Private Bertie’s death, from wounds he received in France. (Bertie enlisted aged 17, claiming to be 21. He sustained gunshot wounds to his chest on August 29th, 1916, and died on September 21st aged just 18.) Private Alfred Lewis 2358 also served for four years in WWI in the 12th Battalion but survived and lived to be 90.
Jack attended the Woodside School in the Adelaide Hills where he passed the Qualifying Certificate before gaining work as a labourer and stockman. In reality, he confidently turned his hand to any form of work, including as a tractor driver at Appila in the mid-north of South Australia when he enlisted. He was known to be a crack shot, being part of a five-man Wirrabara party that went out on a huge kangaroo hunt in May ’40, bagging 315 over five days. Jack was reported as having hit two roos with one shot from his 303 rifle, while the buckboard was doing 30 miles an hour.
Commonly known as Tex, Jack married Naomi Florence Usher, a waitress, on the 4th February ’31 in St Martin’s Church at Campbelltown. They soon welcomed their first child, a son, Keith.
However, with the outbreak of WWII, the Weston family were quick to volunteer to serve – again. 30-year-old Charles James (Charlie) SX5448 was the first of the brothers to enlist on the 15th June ’40 serving with the 8th Division, where he became a Corporal and also served in the Middle East. 28-year-old Tex enlisted on the 4th July, listing his occupation as a tractor driver.
Tex and Naomi welcomed their daughter Pamela Joy Nightingale that year, just six weeks prior to Tex boarding the Stratheden heading for the Middle East.
Tex became a highly skilled and respected ‘scout’. Darren Paech collated his grandfather, Ivor Paech’s war diaries in ’Adelaide to Alamein’. He described how on patrol, ‘the men wore no shoes so as to remain silent, and instead wore three pairs of socks over their bare feet. Oil was smeared over helmets and bayonets and then dusted with sand to hide their shine. They wore khaki uniforms to blend in with the light-coloured desert sands as, despite the chill, the warmer woollen service dress was too dark.’ Paech recounts how, in May, while on patrol towards Forbes Mound and hidden from five approaching Germans on patrol, SX10330 Lieutenant Don Kimber, unexpectedly leap out and demanded they surrender. He was immediately shot in the abdomen. Tex dispatched the fleeing group, then went to the aid of his wounded boss, dragging him to safety whilst the Australian patrol fortunately returned to their own lines without further loss. Don survived.
By June the following year, the Advertiser reported that ‘Mrs. J. K. Weston. of May terrace, Lockleys has received notification that her husband Corporal Jack K. Weston has been wounded in action. He enlisted in July. 1940, and sailed in November, 1940. He has two brothers serving in the 2nd AIF., abroad. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Weston, of North Kensington Park.’ Tex had lacerated his left leg and spent a fortnight in hospital.
Tex recovered and quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. In December undertook a leadership course where his skills were described as ‘Leadership very good, Tactical Knowledge good general conduct capable and conscientious.’ (This was coordinated by ex-teacher, Ivor Paech.)
During the fighting at Tel El Eisa in July ’42, Tex, Sergeant Weston, Platoon Sergeant, led the attack backing up each section and with his Thomas Sub Machine Gun was responsible for several of the enemy. After the capture of the battery another four guns were observed and Sergeant Weston made straight for these and single handed captured the entire crew. During the afternoon the Platoon was over-run by tanks. Sergeant Weston controlled the Platoon shouting out instructions and keeping his Platoon intact. Later on he went out after some German tank crews and brought them in whilst the enemy was still shelling the area. His determination and courage held the Platoon together during the whole of the operations which were continuous all day.’
By September ’42 the news that seven South Australian men were to receive awards for their bravery in Egypt was announced, with Jack being awarded the Military Medal (already the recipient of the D.C.M.) as did fellow 2/48th SX7996 Sergeant Colin Jacka from Blackwood.
As a result, the news was shared in the September issue of the News that ‘Mrs. J. K. Weston. of May terrace, Lockleys has received notification that her husband Corporal Jack K. Weston, has been wounded in action. He enlisted in July. 1940, and sailed In November 1940. He has two brothers serving in the 2nd A I.F., abroad. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Weston, of North Kensington Park.’
During the Battle of El Alamein on the 31st Oct ’42, Tex was wounded in his left arm, thigh and ankle of right leg. Ignoring his own wounds, Tex carried an injured fellow 2/48th soldier, Bob Reed, hit by shrapnel, a mile to dressing station. (Bob’s brother, Bill, ironically was in a preceding ambulance, having also been hit.)
Tex’s exploits (and his incredible survival skills), continued to be reported on, with the October ’42 issue of the Advertiser sharing that ‘Four Australians—three of them being friends and the fourth out to avenge a friend— made their way for 2,000 yards across no-man's land in broad daylight yesterday until they were within a few hundred yards of the enemy's front line. Then, with the enemy's big guns crashing shells at them and machinegun and rifle bullets kicking up the earth around them, they withdrew. "I'm afraid we ran a bit then," one of them said later, "but by then our job was done." The Australians were selected from volunteers who had offered to go out under cover of a dust storm to search for traces of three members of a South Australian battalion. These men had been left behind when their patrol fought out a fierce tommy-gun battle with the Germans in the darkness of no-man's-land on the previous night. There were plenty of volunteers, but finally Sgt. J. A. R Buckley, of Glandore, Adelaide, who had been with the patrol, Lt R. Kennelly, of Mt. Lawley (WA), and Sgt. Jack Weston, of Lockleys, Adelaide, were chosen. Cpl. Ron Ingram, of Yorke Peninsula (SA), who was anxious to avenge a mate killed in the recent Tel El Isa fighting, went too. Just as they left the forward post the dust storm cleared, leaving them in plain view as they advanced over the bare desert towards the enemy lines. But they kept going and gathered evidence to confirm the belief that their friends had been taken prisoner, before they turned to make the equally hazardous journey back. Bullets were coming very close when the search ended 300 yards from the enemy lines, and the Australians sheltered behind a small sand dune. While they sheltered, Sgt. Weston, who got the DCM for his patrol work at Tobruk and the Military Medal for gallantry in the Tel El Isa fighting, took his boot off to empty the sand from it. Then the shells began to lob nearby, and the Australians decided to run for it. Weston ran with his boot under one arm and his tommy-gun under the other. "I didn't stop to put the boot on; I just held it out in front and my foot went into it as I ran." he said.
The following month, the Advertiser again reported on Tex’s stoicism in the desert, where ambulancemen had already transferred 200 wounded men back to safety. ‘Sometimes the wounded men they went to pick up had disappeared. They had taken their rifles and gone back to join again in the battle. One who tried to get back to his mates was Sgt. Jack Weston, of Lockleys. South Australia- He had four bullets through him, and when he was brought in on a stretcher to the blockhouse, a doctor took a cursory glance at him and said, “I’m afraid he's done for." His mates sorrowfully lowered the stretcher to the ground. Even as they did so, the wounded man opened his eyes, raised himself on his elbows, stood up, shook himself like a dog and said. "Where are these bloody Germans?" It was only with difficulty that he was restrained from returning to the battle. He is now making good progress towards recovery.’
Finally, the 2/48th were on their way home at the start of February ’43 to a tumultuous welcome with the 2/48th having already won three Victoria Crosses and 60 other decorations and awards-more than any other A.I.F. unit.
Stories were gleaned from the men and published in local newspapers. The March ’43 News edition was extensive, publishing stories of the local, modest heroes, including Jack. ‘Outstanding among the patrol leaders was Sergeant Jack ("Tex") Weston, M.M., DC.M., of Lockleys, overseer on a station near Wirrabara before the war. "He had pure bush instincts. daring and brains; he was a born leader, and had the absolute confidence of the men," said Sgt. Lachlan Watson. Here is Sgt. Jack Weston's story: "Tobruk was one big patrol," he said. "They were sitting outside our fences, and we just had to keep them out. Every now and then we used to go out and chop up one or two of their machine-gun posts. "We would be told what our job was, would pick our men-all good fellows-and would then go out. "'We would hear them working, would crawl in and be in among them with tommy-guns before they knew what had happened. "It was a case of hitting hard and quickly, then getting out. We would spread out and run back. "Sense of direction, quietness, and alertness all counted. Our casualties were very light. "We cracked the Italians' nerve and the-Huns did very little patrolling. We would ambush their patrols, wait until they were within 20 yards, then mow down half their men before they could gather their wits. That discouraged them.”
‘Once Sgt. Weston was nearly caught at his own game. That night he had crawled out in front of the lines and was watching a party of Italians laying a mine field, working out how his patrol could deal with them, when he heard someone about 20 yards away. Straining his eyes through the; darkness, he made out a figure crawling up on him. The sergeant was armed only with a highly inaccurate Italian automatic pistol. because you can't crawl with a tommie-gun. As one-of the objects of the patrol was to take a prisoner, he decided to lead this man back to his patrol. He crawled back. The Italian followed for about 20 yards became suspicious stopped. Sgt. Weston whistled to him. And thinking he was a friend the Italian started to come on again. The Italian was almost in among our patrol when he took fright and ran. It was not worth shooting, drawing fire, risking unnecessary casualties-so he escaped.’
However, the Biggest thrill of Sgt. Weston's homecoming-was to see his bonny little daughter, Pamela, aged 2½. who was a six-weeks-old baby when he left Australia: That meant more to him than his two decorations, which he explained away. "It’s the boys working with you who win the medals. If you are lucky enough to be in charge, you get the bouquets." No wonder Wirrabara lodge members saved their bottle beer ration for a reunion with their hero.’
In later years a fellow soldier shared that “When the Ninth Division returned to Australia. I was on the same train as Weston as it arrived at Adelaide. Weston, one of the most fearless soldiers Australia has ever produced, was too shy to kiss his wife in front of his mates, so he took her behind a railway truck.”
The Advertiser gleaned more stories about Tex ‘whose name became familiar throughout the 9th Division, and the other Allied units. He was honored by Indian troops, who gave him one of their knives in recognition of his work—a rare mark of esteem. "He should have been recommended for the VC," one of his fellow-soldiers said. "He was recognised as the outstanding night patrol man In the Middle East and used to be lent from one company to another to show other chaps the ropes. He's the gamest fellow I know, and a great soldier. During the scores of patrols which he led at Tobruk and Alamein, I don't think be lost a man. Sometimes, his parties would penetrate up to five miles behind the enemy's lines, and the information which he gained for us was invaluable." "It isn't much use telling you about any of his exploits In particular." said another group. "He'd just take 'em out, and shoot 'em up and do things." Twice decorated but reluctant to discuss his experiences during the two years he spent in the Middle East, and modestly dismissing any mention of the gallantry which earned him the DCM at Tobruk and the MM ai Tel el Isa, Sgt. Weston spent his home leave making the acquaintance of his small daughter.’
‘Pam was at first very shy of her tall, well-built soldier father, but they soon became good friends. Much more excitement about his father's return was shown by 11-years-old Keith Weston. who is now the hero of his school. Sgt. Weston was eloquent about the deeds of the men he led. "They were magnificent," he said, "and many stories could be told of their courage. Many more of the battalion I think, deserved decorations for their achievements performed in most difficult circumstances.”
Tex’s exploits became legendary. A Mr Legg from the ABC spoke at a Rotary Club in June ’44 about the Dawn of Victory. He told of Tex Weston, who “was notorious not only for his bravery, but for the armour he wore— a pistol and a tommy gun of which he was very proud. The large German tanks were in the habit of straddling the shallow slit trenches, thus crushing the life out of the soldiers occupying them if they were not deep enough. Tex fortunately escaped this fate but his tommy gun was crushed and broken. In a rage, Weston, armed with a sticky bomb— a type well known to our soldiers— chased the tank for 400 yds., smashed the bomb on the outside of it. After diving to safety, nothing happened, as he had forgotten to release the pin. It was a dejected Tex Weston, said Mr. Legg, who sneaked the 400 yards back to his position. For sheer unadulterated courage and bravery, the work of a small handful of Tommies and their Matilda tanks, remains unsurpassed, and Mr. Legg claimed that this incident in the battle of El Alamein was the turning point of the war.”
Jack trained in Queensland before arriving at Milne Bay in New Guinea. Several bouts of malaria, dysentery, high temperature and a back strain all marred his physical health, before he returned to Brisbane in March ’44. Fellow soldiers reported that Tex hated the jungle. This was compounded by the ongoing debility of malaria which forced him to rest at Kapara Convalescent Home over May that year, before that infection and the long term effects of the gunshot wound to his left foot finally signalled his Jack’s war was over. He was finally discharged on the 7th March ’45 with the assumption that he would return to the farm at Wirrabara
In a devastating blow to the family, Tex’s 82-year-old father, Alfred, who had retired from the Railways, died in July 1944 of a fractured spine, arm, concussion and other injuries sustained on July 2, the day after he had been struck by a car in Magill road.
Tex was a passionate supporter of the War Loan Appeal, co-writing to the Advertiser with fellow DCM, SX7092 Frank Kennedy in support of the appeal and urging others to be generous in their involvement. (Both these men were to represent South Australia in London in a Victory Parade.)
In March ’46 the Northern Areas Football Association was being revived, with Tex suiting up for Wirrabara in the first match against Laura. At the time, Jack was manager of the Commercial Hotel at Gladstone, and still putting others first. A local footballer sustained an injury that resulted in an above the knee amputation. Jack immediately donated goods to support the fundraising for the young man.
A further honour was bestowed on Jack that year, as he was one of six members of South Australia's Army contingent to travel to London for the Victory Parade, the oldest and only married member of the group. (His application was an eleventh hour entry, but his war record was so impressive that the selection board immediately sent an urgent telegram to Wirrabara.) After Weston's medical history had been examined, his name was announced as the sixth member to make up South Australia's quota. He was allocated a new number, SX500269 rather than the number he had served as; SX7808.The Wirrabara community farewelled him with a chop picnic on the banks of Rocky River. Naomi, 14-year-old Keith and 5-year-old Pamela farewelled him as he boarded the Melbourne Express. In London the men stayed in tents pitched at Kensington Gardens, attending the Derby, a country estate and country fair as well as being involved in the historic march through London.
Alamein veteran Tex from Wirrabara had a welcome reunion with ‘Monty’ in July ’47. Highly respected Field Marshal Lord Montgomery attended the Returned Servicemen's League Reception in the Adelaide Town Hall where he was greeted by the singing of "Lili Marlene". This was introduced into the Western Desert by Rommel’s Afrika Korps, but adopted by the Eighth Army for its own. It was sung from Alamein to Tripoli, and troops brought it back with them from the Middle East.
Jack and Naomi returned to several of the towns in which they had lived or worked, including Laura in January ‘48 (where Jack was a member of the Post Office staff).
In March ’51 Jack ‘threw hit hat in the ring’ with 216 others of a ballot for ten grazing blocks north of Wilcannia, which were formerly part of Momba and Marra holdings. This number was trimmed to 42, but unfortunately, Tex was not one of the ballot winners. He returned to managing pastoral stations in the Outback in New South Wales and South Australia. However, that year he travelled over 500 miles from Menamurtee Station, NSW, to join the El Alamein reunion at the Adelaide Town Hall in October ’51.
Jack and Naomi were dealt a further blow in February ’54 when their newborn son lived for just 24 hours. Tex became manager of a Cowell Hotel, and it was at this time he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Aged 51 Tex died in the Repatriation Hospital on the 13th December ’63, leaving behind his wife and two children.
He now rests in the Centennial Park cemetery where his cremated remains are in the RSL Section Wall 114 Niche F007. Naomi re-married and lived to be 82 and died on the 27th June ’94. Her remains are in the Saint George’s Cemetery at Magill.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.