Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Charles Paul, known as Jack, was born at Queenscliff to John Keating Paul and Norah Paul (nee Ryan). He was their second son born there; his brother Henry arriving the year before.  Their father was a career soldier stationed at Fort Queenscliff with the Garrison Artillery and in 1910 was posted as Master Gunner to Fort Largs in Adelaide.

Both Henry and Jack were boarders at Geelong College where they were active in the Senior Cadets with Jack winning a Victorian Rifles Association medallion for shooting in 1906. On leaving school in 1910 he obtained employment as a wool traveller and buyer with Dalgety and Co.’s Geelong office and took up residence at the Golden Age Hotel, a short walk from Dalgety's office. He also joined and took an active part in the Citizens Military Forces. That same year he joined Barwon Rowing Club, a time when the membership doubled to 61. One of his first competitive races was at the 1912 Henley on the Yarra Regatta where he rowed four seat at 6 ft. and 11st 8 lbs.

By the 24th of the month Jack, now aged 21 years and four months, was appointed Second-Lieutenant in 'B' Company of the 8th Battalion. He was presented with a thermos flask, compass and dressing case by the members of 'G' Coy, 70th Infantry and then left Geelong to spend a few weeks with his parents and sister, Ethel, at Fort Largs.

On about the 23rd Jack's battalion was told that the attack would take place on Sunday 25th. Iron rations were issued and all the men's kits checked. Another lieutenant in the 8th, John Charles Barrrie, later wrote in his memoirs: Saturday the 24th was a wet day, everything was ready, and the troops were allowed to rest. In the afternoon, sixteen of us foregathered in one cabin … and in a spirit of fun Lieut. Jack Paul forecasted our fate. He was a big, fine-looking chap, the son of a soldier, and one of the best himself, liked by all of us. Taking each in turn, he told us what would happen to us on the morrow, and that he himself would be killed. He was killed that first day, and, strangely enough, his entire forecast almost came true.

Lieut. J.C. Paul took part in the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April as part of the second wave. Contrary to the original plan his battalion was rushed to Bolton's Ridge. One officer was killed and another wounded as they were starting off but Jack's company advanced, driving off some Turks. When Turkish reinforcements arrived in overwhelming numbers and ammunition was running low his company withdrew and it was during this retirement that Jack was wounded. A fellow Barwon Rowing Club member, Private Norman Hurst, later wrote to the Geelong office of Dalgety and Co. with further news: All we know of him ...  is that he was wounded during the retreat of April 25. He and his party chased the Turks inland, but ammunition was running short. Then they had to come back to our present position. When he was hit, five fellows went out under heavy machine gun and shrapnel fire to bring him in. He ordered them to leave him and save themselves. When, however, they went to get hold of him he drew his revolver on them, and they had to leave him. On the day of armistice they hunted everywhere for his body, but could not find it. Some hope that he is a prisoner.

Jack's body was discovered by members of the 9th Battalion on 28th June; his identity disc removed and his body buried on the spot. He had been listed as missing and it was more than three months before he was confirmed as killed in action and his family notified of his death. Six weeks later his father resigned his commission with the Citizen Forces and enlisted in the A.I.F at the age of 50 years and 11 months, and was quickly appointed Lieutenant in the 32nd Battalion. The Geelong Advertiser reported that he had enlisted to revenge the death of his son, who had meet his death like a hero: I hope to go to the front soon to avenge my dear boy's death. It is a great privilege to me to know that I will have the opportunity of educating a lot of fine young fellows how to assist me in the work of how best to slaughter the copper-coloured scum of Europe. I only hope I may also have the pleasure of sending to a bad place as many Germans as possible. I shall try to secure you the fez of the Sultan of Turkey. He later transferred to the Field Artillery earning a D.S.O. with the 105th Howitzer Battery in June 1917. But one month later he returned to Australia medically unfit, suffering from nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness, wasting, loss of appetite and exhaustion.

The biography in The Geelong Advertiser following Jack’s death described him as of “splendid physique and rare dash - one of the most dashing lieutenants in the AIF.  Amongst the effects returned to his family was a fez cap. Jack's body was not found after the war.

His brother Lieutenant Henry Keating Brook Paul, 27th Battalion, returned to Australia, 1 November 1919.

Edited from a biography by the Barwon Rowing Club.