MACK, Joseph
| Service Number: | Commission |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sub Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Attached Royal Navy |
| Born: | St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia, 12 July 1896 |
| Home Town: | Berrybank, Corangamite, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Officer, R.A.N. |
| Died: | Killed In Action, North Sea, Denmark, 31 May 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, panel 18 |
| Memorials: | Crib Point RAN WW1 Roll of Honour (Panel 2) |
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement Sub Lieutenant, Commission, Attached Royal Navy |
|---|
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 31st May…… Joseph Mack was born at St. Kilda, Victoria on 12th July, 1896.
He joined the Royal Australian Navy on 20th October, 1913. He was selected for transfer to the British Navy under the scheme of cadetships & was transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve for training. His address was listed as The Rectory, Bradford Peverell, Dorchester, England.
Probationary Midshipman Joseph Mack was transferred to H.M.S. Indefatigable from 13th November, 1913.
He applied for an appointment with Royal Australian Navy on 21st February, 1914.
From 23rd April, 1914 Joseph Mack was posted to London Depot. He was appointed Midshipman, on probation, with Royal Australian Navy - Service number 1944. (Gazetted 8 August 1914 page 1362).
He was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant from 13th November, 1914 while serving in H.M.S. Indefatigable.
Sub-Lieutenant Joseph Mack was transferred to H.M.S. Defence from 23rd April, 1914.
On 19th October, 1915 Sub-Lieutenant Mack was admitted to Queensferry Hospital with Gonorrhoeal ophthalmia of left Eye. He was transferred & admitted to Plymouth Hospital on 18th November, 1915. (Information from British Royal Naval Reserve: Officers’ Service Records)
He was classified fit on 13th December, 1915 & was ordered to rejoin H.M.S. Defence.
HMS Defence served as the flagship of the First Cruiser Squadron. After pursuing a German light cruiser, it came under fire from a number of German battleships. Defence was hit twice, with one of the salvoes detonating the rear ammunition store on board. The fire from that explosion quickly spread, igniting the rest of the magazines on board. The resulting explosion resulted in Defence sinking with the loss of all souls on board, totalling almost 900.
Sub-Lieutenant Joseph Mack was killed in action on 31st May, 1916 at Jutland, Denmark as a result of enemy action.
He is named on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, England – Panel 18 as he has no grave, however his death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/l---r.html
Click images to start slideshow.