Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Miltiades’ for Egypt 12.2.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 14th Reinforcements 16th Battalion.
Jecks disembarked at Abbassia with the 14th Reinforcements 16th Battalion. He was taken on strength in Tel-el-Kebir with 48th Battalion, then transferred to the 12th Training Battalion on 5.4.1916. Jecks was hospitalised with a debility 15.5.1916. He was transferred to the newly formed 48th Battalion and embarked from Alexandria with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) for France 30.7.1916. He disembarked in and marched into Rollestone UK to the 12th Training Battalion. Jecks proceeded overseas to France with 48th Bn. on 25.7.1916. He joined his Bn. 9.8.1916 and was taken on strength with the 48th Bn. 13.8.1916. His Bn. fought on the Western Front and at Pozieres in August 1916. They endured the harsh winter of 1916-17 in the trenches on the Somme. From March 1918, the 48th Bn. followed the retreating Germans towards the Hindenburg Line (AWM 48th Bn). Jecks was KIA at Bullecourt, France in the German Trenches, either shot or hit by bomb 11.4.1917. He was not buried. Jecks is commemorated at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (M R 26 Part III G- J), Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie. France.
Final Rank Private, 48th Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.

‘Link by link the ones are slipping
One by one the heroes fall
And you my dear brother
Have answered the great roll call.
His Duty nobly done.’
(Killed in Action West Australian Newspaper 23.6.1917)

Notes  A. J. Jecks was  the youngest son of Walter and Martha (nee Stuart) Jecks and the grandson of Thomas Jecks of the Rose and Crown Hotel(West Australian Times 13.9.1878 p2). His father was licensee of the hotel 1886-1894. Alec was born in 1892 and may have lived at the hote for 2 years.  This information is as yet unconfirmed. His father was later to have a carrier business in James St. Guildford , however, there is no documentation to show where in Guildford the family lived. In Jeck's obituary his family wrote his name as Aleck and noted he was called Charlie (Western Mail 18.5.1917 p42) His father died in 1896 and his mother in 1916. His sister Martha Stone of Lions Mill, cared for him prior to his enlistment. The reference to Market St. as Jeck's address may be a possible reference to his grandfather's home  'Almond Grove,' Market St. This home is no longer extant. Jecks  had a brother Thomas  Walter  Jecks who also enlisted under the assumed name of Heritage (SN 796) with the 3rd Pioneers and was awarded a Military Medal. His brother left home around 1901 and lost contact with his family. (Swan Express 8.5.1947 p4)
Photos  HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P08559.001
               Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph so source AWM E05391
               Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H12360
               Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph source H17454
               A.C. Jecks. Image source Kalgoorlie Miner 11.5.1917 p4

Information Source
AWM P08559.00. HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourcedfrom the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05391. Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H12360. Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Alec Charles Jecks
AWM Roll of Honour-Alec Charles Jecks
AWM Red Cross Files-Alec Charles Jeck
AWM 48th Bn.
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
Kalgoorlie Miner
NAA: B2455, Jecks Alec Charles
Swan Express
West Australian Newspaper
West Australian Times
Western Mail
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA


Almond Grove Market Street
Welbourne House 43 Market St (mother’s residence with sister)
Lions Mill (with sister after death of parents)

Associated Images