Jack Hilton West
From The Orange Wiki
WEST, Jack Hilton
Service no: 2012 [1]
Place of birth: Bourke, 17 February 1893
Address: Rotorua, 44 Hill Street, Orange, later Spring Hill then 2 Warrendine Street, Orange
Occupation: Bottler
Next of kin: Arthur Edward West (father), Rotorua, 44 Hill Street, Orange
Date of enlistment: 29 February 1916
Place of enlistment: Orange
Age at enlistment: 23
Fate: Embarked A37 Barambah Sydney 23 June 1916. Disembarked Plymouth 25 August 1916. Hospitalised 5 July 1916 suffering from tonsillitis. Hospitalised 13 October 1916. Proceeded to France 21 November 1916. Nominated for Military Medal 2 March 1918. Returned to Australia 10 August 1919. Discharged 25 September 1919.
Date of death: 12 December 1968, aged 75 years, Orange
Jack Hilton West was working as a bottler at Walker’s Brewery when he enlisted in February 1916. He embarked in June the same year and served as a Private, later Corporal in the 34th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements in France.
In March 1918 Jack was nominated for a Military Medal. The nominating officer stated:
- Private West has set a fine example of endurance and courage to the men of the battalion frequently under the most trying conditions as a signaller and linesman.
- By his willingness and total disregard of danger he assisted in keeping communication throughout the battalion.
Jack returned to Australia in August 1919. In 1921 he married Nellie Valerie Gardiner; the couple had two boys, John and Don. Don served in WWII; he was killed in action in Bougainville in May 1945.
Jack's name appears on the Holy Trinity Church Orange Honour Roll.
Jack’s brother Claude Bertie West also served in WWI; he died of wounds received in action in France in May 1917.
Leader, 23 February 1916, p. 2.
Presentation to Jack West [2]
