Almanac Poetry: Albert Jacka Earns Australia’s First VC of The Great War

 

Captain Albert Jacka, VC, MC and Bar, 1917. He was memorably described by Les Carlyon as ‘the one-man epic’. Many thought his exploits during WW1 deserved three Victoria Crosses. (Source: Australian War Memorial Collection.)

 

Albert Jacka Earns Australia’s First VC of The Great War
(Courtney’s Post, Gallipoli, May 19-20, 1915)

 

Wielding a bolt action
Lee-Enfield .303,
bayonet attached,
in a feat of brilliant athleticism
as much as bravery,
Lance-Corporal Jacka leaps into a trench,
shoots dead five Turks,
bayonets two more,
and the remaining enemy
‘think it best to leave’.
His platoon commander,
Crabbe, finds him
after the affray
leaning against the parados,
face flushed, unlit cigarette
dangling from his lips:
“I managed to get the beggars, sir.”

 

 

Read more from Kevin Densley HERE

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About

Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, which was published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.

Comments

  1. He’s an extraordinary character. Thanks for this Kevin.

    I’ve read quite a bit about Jacka over the years. He’s as intriguing as Ned Kelly.

  2. Kevin Densley says

    Cheers, Dips! I appreciate your comments.

    Yes, I agree that Jacka is right up there in interest with other ‘mythic” Australians like Kelly. Some of Jacka’s wartime exploits border on the superhuman. His VC at Gallipoli was just the beginning.

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