ECKERSLEY, Jack
| Service Number: | 29451 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Battery Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Artillery Battery |
| Born: | Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, January 1891 |
| Home Town: | Mount Hawthorn, Vincent, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Dairy hand |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Battery Sergeant Major, 29451, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct 1916: | Embarked 29451, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, HMAT Aeneas, Melbourne | |
| 3 Oct 1916: | Involvement 29451, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Oct 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Battery Sergeant Major, 1st Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 3 Nov 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Battery Sergeant Major, 1st Field Artillery Battery | |
| 27 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Battery Sergeant Major, 29451, 1st Field Artillery Battery, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, GSW to left elbow and thigh | |
| 17 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Battery Sergeant Major, 29451, 1st Field Artillery Battery, 5th MD - wounding |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Friends of ANZAC Cottage Inc
Today, on the eve of Remembrance Day, we have another Mount Hawthorn veteran to honour.
Jack Eckersley enlisted in the AIF at the age of 24. Originally working as a dairyman, Jack and his wife, Mary lived in Coogee Street prior to Jack’s joining the army, although during Jack’s service, his wife moved to Ruth Street in North Perth. However, the Friends of ANZAC Cottage still regard Jack as one of the “Coogee Street” boys.
Jack, with Service Number 29541 was assigned to the1st Field Artillery Brigade when he joined up on this day, 10 November 1915. Unlike most of his Western Australian comrades, Jack embarked in Melbourne for his overseas service.
Promoted to Sergeant, Jack was wounded with gun shot wounds to his left thigh and elbow joint on 27 September 1918 whilst in action in France. These wounds took some time to heal and Jack was admitted to several hospitals for treatment and was eventually sent back home in January 1919.
Again differently to so many of the Mount Hawthorn boys, on his return Jack and his family left Mount Hawthorn and began farming at Lake Biddy, with him proving to be a most successful farmer. Post war he was an active community member, standing for government and represented on a number of organisations in his chosen location.
A newspaper search also revealed that Jack was a bit of a thinker, coming up with a plan to manage the petrol rations, so he was a busy man!! Jack lived a full and interesting life, ending his days back in Perth where he lived in Claremont.
Jack, you will be in our thoughts tomorrow as we pay our respects to those who serve our country.
Thank you to Sandra Playle for her work and research on the Mount Hawthorn World War I veterans
Click images to start slideshow.