FINK, John William
| Service Numbers: | 411909, QX5218 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Yandina, Queensland, Australia, 6 May 1918 |
| Home Town: | Yandina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement 411909, later QX5218 (27/5/1940) | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1940: | Involvement Sergeant, QX5218, died 11 Feb 2011 (C'Mail) | |
| 27 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, QX5218, 2nd/15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Nov 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, QX5218, 2nd/15th Infantry Battalion |
Sergeant Jack Finke
Jack (John William Finke) served in the Middle East and New Guines from enlistment in 1940 till 1945. He served in the 2nd/15th Australian infantry battalion and was active in the battle of El Arish. As one of the Rats of Tobruk, he was amongst the men who dug holes to escape the German tanks that were advancing on them. When the tanks passed over the soldiers got up and fired from behind.
The battle was legendary as one of the most intense battles of ww2.
He said the noise was deafening but on Christmas day there was a few moments of cease fire for the men from both sides to remove there dead comrades. In that silence Jack heard the sound of Curlews which he knew of from his hometown, Yandina.
He said the Curlews call reminded him that there was a life outside of war.
Jack was a man of great integrity and never married or had children to pass on his stories too.
So our family honour his memory on Anzac Day and always recall his words "no-one wins in war".
RIP Jack we are honoured to have known you.
Submitted 8 December 2025 by Diana Russo
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