JESS, Carl Mcgibbon
| Service Number: | VX48792 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Surrey, England, 15 July 1921 |
| Home Town: | Toorak, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Hale School Perth, Melbourne Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Staff of Advertising Firm |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Tobruk, Libya, 17 May 1941, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya 7 E. 12 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Lieutenant, VX48792 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, VX48792, 2nd/23rd Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Carl Mcgibbon Jess's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Lt. Carl McGibbon Jess (reported missing) is the elder son of Lt Gen Sir Carl Jess and Lady Jess of Toorak. Aged 20 he was born in Surrey, England and was educated at Hale School, Perth and MGS. He was in the school cadet corps, and later joined Royal Melbourne Regiment, gaining his commission before he joined the AIF in July 1940. Since going overseas Lt. Jess was in the AIF garrison at Tobruk. Recent reports from Tobruk gave details of several successful AIF patrols, one of which, led by Lt. Jess, brought back a number of enemy prisoners. He was employed on the staff of an advertising firm before enlisting. Lt. Jess announced his engagement early in April 1941 to Miss Betty Wallace Mitchell, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Mitchell of Melbourne.
Biography contributed by Sian Carlyon
Lieutenant Carl McGibbon Jess was born on 15th July 1920 at Camberwell, Surrey, England, whilst his father was posted there in the aftermath of The Great War. He was the older son of Australians, Lieutenant Colonel (later Lieutenant General Sir) Carl Herman Jess and Marion McGibbon.[1] He was educated at Melboure Grammar School.
Lieutenant Carl Jess was killed in action at Tobruk during the Second World War.
Carl was killed in action at Tobruk, Libya, on 17th May 1941. He had been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 6th August 1940[2] and been posted to the 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion, which had been raised at the Albury Showgrounds, New South Wales in August 1940, as part of the 26th Brigade. Initially, the brigade belonged to 7th Division but in early 1941 was transferred to 9th Division in northern Africa. Shortly afterward, between 6th and 10th April against German-led counter-attacks, the entire division fell back to Tobruk – colloquially referred to as the 'Benghazi handicap'. The battalion helped defend Tobruk on the 'Red Line', a semicircle around the town; initially on the western side of the line cutting Derna Road and from the beginning of May on the eastern side of Tobruk, where the line cut Bardia Road. It was here that Carl was killed.[3] Carl McGibbon Jess' name is located at panel 50 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.[4]
from: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Jess-175
by John Andrewartha
Sources:
↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Sep qtr 1920, vol 2a, page 243
↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Lieutenant Carl McGibbon Jess
↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
↑ Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Lieutenant Carl McGibbon Jess
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