Private John Carroll, 33rd Battalion, Victoria Cross action
at St Yves (battle of Messines).
Jack Carroll was born in Brisbane
but grew up in Western Australia
and worked around Kalgoorlie and
nearby Karrawang. In 1916 he joined the AIF's 44th Battalion, but soon
transferred to the 33rd. Messines was the battalion's first big action.
Over the period of 7-10 June, during the battle at St Yves
(near Messines), Carroll was outstanding: he rushed an enemy trench and killed
four Germans; assisted a soldier in distress and killed another German;
attacked a machine-gun team, killing three men and capturing the gun; then
extracted comrades buried in a shell hole while under heavy fire. His citation
declared: "his magnificent example of gallantry and devotion to duty
inspired all ranks in his battalion".
Carroll was a casual and happy-go-lucky man, known by his
mates as "the wild Irishman". He was wounded a month later and again,
severely this time, on 12 October
1917 . Returned to Australia ,
he resumed work as a labourer and railwayman. In 1927 he had his foot amputated
in a work accident.
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