Informal portrait of Lieutenant (LT) Jack Diamond Sumner Potts. Born in New Maldon, Middlesex, ...

Informal portrait of Lieutenant (LT) Jack Diamond Sumner Potts. Born in New Maldon, Middlesex, England, Jack Potts immigrated to New South Wales as a child with his family and was employed as a Jackaroo at the time of his enlistment, aged 18, on 11 May 1915. He initially enlisted as a Private (number 1203) in the 8th Reinforcements of the 7th Light Horse Regiment, with whom he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Suffolk (A23) on 28 July 1915. On 4 October 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was detached to the Royal Flying Corps for air instruction on 10 January 1917 then to 67 Squadon, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) in May following the completion of his training. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October of that year, and graded as First Class Pilot. He was killed in action while flying over enemy lines on 4 January 1918. The proceedings of a court on inquiry found that; 'On January 4th 1918, Lieut. J.D.S Potts, Pilot and 2/Lieut. V.J. Parkinson, Observer, were flying an R.E.S, on a bomb raid on the enemy aerodrome at Jenin. They failed to return...On January 10th, a message was dropped by Hostile aircraft which stated that our machine had been forced to land and that Lieut. Potts had been buried and that 2/Lieut. V.J. Parkinson was slightly wounded and was the a Prisoner of War. It also stated that Lieut. Potts had been buried at Jenin, and enclosed a photograph of his grave.' See also B02165.