Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Jewkes W G CSM 142 Wallace Gordon 39 Inf Bn 22 Chemist Single Meth
Address: Essendon, Glen St, 8
Next of Kin: Jewkes, W M, father, 8 Glen St, Essendon
Mt Alexander Rd, Essendon by 13 Feb 1917
39 Loch St, St Kilda by 14 Jul 1917
Como Pharmacy, Raglan & Military Rds, Mosman by 3 Oct 1922
Enlisted: 9 May 1916
Embarked: A11 Ascanius 27 May 1916
Relatives on Active Service:
Jewkes G G Pte 930 brother
Date of Death: 10/01/1917 Lieutenant 39 Inf Bn
CWGC: "Son of Wallace Meiklejohn Jewkes and Jean Jewkes, of Military Rd and Raglan St, Mosman,
New South Wales. Native of Ballarat".
Rodney Charles Locke and Gordon Jewkes, circa 1908. Courtesy of Kate Boyce.
Wallace Gordon Jewkes is tentatively identified as being in this group of men about to depart from
Port Melbourne with the 39 Inf Bn on 27 May 1916.
News has been received that Lieut W. Gordon Jewkes, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Jewkes, of Essendon, and of 39 Loch street, St. Kilda, has been killed in France. The deceased was a very popular young fellow, and showed great promise. He was 22 years of age. A brother of the deceased. Private Gilbert Jewkes, is also on active service.
No Title. (1917, January 18). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 6 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74601354 |
Australian War Memorial
Original personal letter, dated 9 January 1917, written by Lieutenant Wallace Gordon Jewkes of 39th Battalion, to his parents: the letter describes his feelings prior to a trench raid he had been selected to lead. Photograph: studio-style photograph of Jewkes in uniform, taken 22 May 1916.
http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/PR01102
Mentioned in this publication:
The Thirty-ninth : the history of the 39th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force by A.T. Paterson. "During the battalion's last tour a party of three officers and fifty men had been behind the lines in training for the first raid to be undertaken by the 39th. At 5 45 p.m. on January 9 the raid was carried out. Captain C. L. Giles was in command of it. Lieutenant (afterwards Captain) P. L. Smith commanded the assault party, whilst Lieutenant W. R Bingle had charge of the right and Lieutenant W. G. Jewkes the left raiding parties Preceded by an artillery barrage on the enemy lines the raiders, carrying a large supply of hand grenades, left our trenches and stormed the enemy front line. The venture was successful. Numbers of the enemy were killed, dugouts were blown up and machine guns put out of action, while valuable information was gleaned from the documents captured in the German trenches.......
Then came the good news that the raiders had returned and that the operation had been a success. The battalion's casualties numbered 17 N.COs. and men failed and wounded, and one officer—Lieutenant W. G. Jewkes— wounded. Lieutenant Jewkes died the following day, to the deep regret of everybody in the battalion".
The Thirty-ninth : the history of the 39th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, by A.T. Paterson, 1934. pp 85-85. |
Lieut W G Jewkes, 39th Battalion AIF. Died of wounds 10.1.17 It is advised that the above named officer was wounded during a raid on the Enemy Trenches in the HOUPLINES sector, ARMENTIERES. This Officer who was leading the Left Party approached a dug-out that was protected by a steel trap-door. On demanding the enemy inside to surrender he was shot through the Loop-hole in the door with a revolver, the bullet lodging in the right side of his head. He was carried back to the Aid Post where he received treatment but later succumbed to his wound. He was buried in HAZEBROUCK CEMETERY. National Archives of Australia, B2455 |
France Dear Mother & Father,
Your loving son
Source: https://sites.google.com/site/the39th/w.gordonjewkes |
Extracts from Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiries Bureau Correspondence.
2nd Lieut. W G Jewkes Died of wounds 10/1/17
I knew Casualty. He was a very tall man, dark complexion about 24 years of age, known as "Gordon". Casualty was leading and in command of the raiding party, Houplines, Armentiers. There were a party of Germans in a dug-out and Casualty went in and asked them to surrender and they refused to come out, and on turning around to call for assistance one of the enemy shot him with a revolver, the bullet passing through his head. I was 100 yds. away. His men brought him back and he died two hours later. I saw his grave which had a nice cross erected on it with his name and battalion. He was buried with his comrade Basil White. He was well known and liked by all his men".
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Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour killed
JEWKES.-A tribute of love and honour to the
memory of Lieutenant W Gordon Jewkes, killed
in France, 10th January, 1917.
-(Inserted by W. J. and A. E. A.)
Family Notices. (1918, January 11). The Argus (Melbourne,