Jack Benjamin Stanley West

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 23/04/2017 - 13:14

First Name:

Jack

Middle Name:

Benjamin Stanley

Last Name:

West

Date of Birth:

Sunday, November 6, 1898

Mother's Name:

Amy West nee Bennett

Father's Name:

Oscar West

Date Enlisted:

Monday, January 3, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

53rd Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, December 21, 1970

Place of Death:

Gosford, N.S.W.

Details:

Jack West (Service No 4562) was born in Sydney.

At enlistment Jack was single, 18 years old, worked as a miner and lived at Thirroul, N.S.W. He had served 4 years with the Cadets. Jack received a send off from the community and his role as a bugler in the Thirroul Citizen's Band was noted in an article which appeared in the Illawarra Mercury on 28 March 1918.

Jack embarked from Sydney on HMAT A71 Nestor with 17th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement on 9th April 1916. After arriving in England on 7th June 1916 he was sent to France on 9th September where he joined 53rd Battalion on 9th October 1916.

Soon after he was admitted to hospital for treatment of foot problems and sent back to England. Jack served in England until he rejoined 53rd Battalion in France on 16th April 1918.

He saw service on the Western Front until he was wounded on 1st September 1918 when he was sent too hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his thigh.

While he was in England Jack met and married Ethel Heywood in Manchester on 27th June 1919, and she returned to Australia with him in October 1919.

Jack was discharged from the AIF on 2nd February 1920. Jack and Ethel had four children, but the marriage was dissolved in 1950.

Jack married a second time, in 1964, to Olga Keary in Sydney.

Jack died in 1970 and is buried in Point Clare Cemetery.

His service is commemorated on the Thirroul Public School Roll of Honor.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WEST JACK BENJAMIN STANLEY