Private Jackson VC Park - Gungal, NSW, Australia
S 32° 16.413 E 150° 30.125
56H E 264729 N 6426503
Near the covered display board in the Park/Rest Area is the plaque to commemorate Private Jackson VC.
Waymark Code: WM104JW
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 02/24/2019
Views: 0
The Rest Area is almost half way between the rural towns of Denman and Merriwa, in the upper Hunter Valley. A moderately large stone boulder is used as a stele, with the bronze plaque embedded into the northern face. It reads:
Private Jackson Park
Officially opened by
Cr Ean Cottle, Mayor
on 4th October 2003
Private Jackson, John William Alexander VC
Citation: London Gazette, 9 September 1916
'For most conspicuous bravery. 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 brought in,
immediately went out again under heavy shell fire
and assisted in bringing in another 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.'
On the night of the 25-26 June 1916, Jackson was
one of a raiding party which entered German
trenches and caused considerable havoc before
withdrawing. His citation records subsequent
events. Eventually he was evacuated and
hospitalised for a very long period but was taken to
Buckingham Palace on 18 November 1916 and
presented with the VC by King George V.
Private Jackson at 18 years became the youngest
Australian to win the Victoria Cross. Also it was
the first won by an Australian on the Western
Front as well as the first by a soldier of the 2nd
Division and the only VC awarded to a soldier of
the 17th Battalion.
LEST WE FORGET
A little bit of extra information is given, and that above is reinforced, at the Australian War Memorial webpage for Private Jackson: Private Jackson
Visited: 0716, Friday, 21 September, 2018