Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Jackson W C Pte Walter Charles Steeplejack rigger 26 Single C of E
Address: Flemington, Mt Alexander Rd, Cricket Club Hotel
Next of Kin: Hurst, Mrs, friend, Cricket Club Hotel, Mt Alexander Rd, Flemington
Enlisted: 21 Feb 1916
Embarked: Discharged before embarkation
The former Cricket Club Hotel, Flemington. Photo: Lenore Frost, 2010.
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JACKSON, WALTER CHARLES, private, 26 years of age, 5 ft. 3½ in. high, fresh complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, four vaccination marks on the left arm , four vaccination marks on the right arm, scar on the eye, mole right shoulder-blade, tattooed on hands and arms. Born at London, England; enlisted at Melbourne. Deserted on the 19th March, 1916.
Victoria Police Gazette 1916, p226. |
In his Conduct Sheet while in Seymour with the 10th Field Company engineers , he was accused of being drunk while Corporal in charge of picquet, having been reported by the Military Police. He was put under open arrest, but broke free before being tried. He had been in Hospital ever since. He was to be discharged from hospital on 10 May 1916. At the Ascot Vale Camp a Board was convened on 1 June 1916 and it was determined that he should be discharged. He was discharged from the AIF at the Military Rest Camp MacLeod.
While in 5 AGM at MacLeod on 29 April 1916, Jackson revealed that he had joined the Imperial Army at the age of 15 and had served in Africa, India and New Guinea. He had had malaria and typhoid 7 years ago in India, and swamp fever in Africa. He stated that cold weather always induced in him ague attacks a febrile condition of fever and shivering. The medical form indicates he had been admitted with a severe case of impetigo and a septic hand due to a dog bite. The doctor recommended that he be discharged from the AIF to enlist for the Tropical Service. At the Ascot Vale Camp a Board was convened on 1 June 1916 and it was determined that he should be discharged. He was discharged from the AIF at the Military Rest Camp MacLeod.
Jackson was ultimately discharged medically unfit "and not due to misconduct", though his character was determined to be "bad".
There is nothing in his file to indicate that he re-enlisted, though this may have occurred in another state with a slightly different name. Given his propensity to develop fevers in cold weather, it seems likely that he headed north, especially having been discharged into a Melbourne winter.
War Service Commemorated
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours