Private William Jackson VC - Media Background

Not yet 19 when awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), Private William Jackson was the youngest member of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) to receive the award during the First World War. Enlisting at Hay, New South Wales, in February 1915, he served with the 17th Battalion on Gallipoli before arriving in France in March 1916. Forming part of the 2nd Division, the battalion was among the first Australian units to file into the trenches of the Western Front after entering the so-called “nursery” sector near the town of Armentières.

Throughout May and June the Australians carried out a program of patrolling and trench raiding to gain experience before moving off to the Somme. The 17th Battalion conducted one such raid on the German positions outside Bois Grenier on the night of 25/26 June 1916.

After five minutes in the enemy trenches, in which time the raiding party had killed and captured a number of enemy troops, the men were returning across no man’s land when they were subjected to retaliatory German artillery fire. Jackson got back to the Australian positions safely with a German prisoner in tow, then immediately went back out into no man’s land to assist in bringing in a wounded man.

Jackson was himself severely wounded by a German shell that took off his arm, after which he returned to the Australian trenches, sought medical attention, and then went out again to help recover the remaining wounded. Private Jackson was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross – the first such award given to an Australian on the Western Front.

After a lengthy period in hospital in England, he returned to Australia and was discharged from the AIF. He died in Melbourne in 1959. Jackson’s VC was recently donated to the Australian War Memorial, and will soon go on display in the Hall of Valour. Private Jackson VC’s citation reads:

On the return from a successful raid, several members of the raiding party were seriously wounded in No Man’s Land by shell fire. Private Jackson got back safely and, after handing over a prisoner whom he had brought in, immediately went out again under a very heavy shell fire and assisted in bringing in a wounded man. He then went out again, and with a sergeant was bringing in another wounded man, when his arm was blown off by a shell and the sergeant was rendered unconscious. He then returned to our trenches, obtained assistance, and went out again to look for his two wounded comrades. He set a splendid example of pluck and determination.

His work has always been marked by the greatest coolness and bravery.' (London Gazette: 9th September 1916.) 1916 VCs also include:

(All awarded in the Battle of Pozières)

• Private John Leak VC, 9th Battalion, Pozières, France, 23 July 1916
• Lieutenant Arthur Blackburn VC, 10th Battalion, Pozières, France, 23 July 1916
• Private Thomas Cooke VC, 8th Battalion, Pozières, France, 24–25 July 1916
• (posthumous)
• Sergeant Claud Castleton VC, 5th Machine Gun Company, Pozières, France, 28 July 1916 (posthumous)
• Private Martin O’Meara VC, 16th Battalion, Pozières, France, 9–12 August 1916 Medal group includes:
  • Victoria Cross 1914-15
  • Star British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal War Medal 1939-1945
  • Australia Service Medal George VI Coronation Medal Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Loan includes:
    • Presentation box and Autographed book of Victoria Cross recipients