Patrick John Robert (Jack) HANCOCK

HANCOCK, Patrick John Robert

Service Number: NX6212
Enlisted: 3 May 1941, Paddington, New South Wales
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion
Born: Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia, 5 December 1921
Home Town: Moss Vale, Wingecarribee, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Builder's labourer
Died: Died of wounds, Balikpapan, Borneo, 3 July 1945, aged 23 years
Cemetery: Labuan War Cemetery
18.C.4,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

3 May 1941: Enlisted Private, NX6212, Paddington, New South Wales
3 May 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX6212, 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion
3 Jul 1945: Involvement Private, NX6212, 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion, Borneo - Operation Oboe July - August 1945

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Biography

Patrick John Robert (Jack) HANCOCK was born to Henry Robert and Margaret Bridget Hancock in March 1920, in Moss Vale, New South Wales. He had an older half-brother, Anthony Bernard Clout and a younger brother and sister, Joseph Dominic Hancock and Sheila Mary (Hancock) Curran

Jack was a builders’ labourer when he enlisted at age 21 in April 1941. He trained as a signalman and fought in the Middle East and New Guinea before he was sent to Borneo.

Pte Hancock was involved in the fierce fighting that took place on the ridges of Balikpapan on July 3, 1945. The 2/31st AIF battalion had commenced operations along the Milford Highway, but encountered heavy opposition from the Japanese defenders. Pte Hancock was seriously wounded by a grenade during this conflict and died later that day.

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