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Helene | Letters from LaBelle's avatar

What an amazing story. Its sad that he didn’t live long after his injuries. With such a positive attitude, he would have inspired many.

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Jane Chapman's avatar

This is an amazing story. It seems somewhat ironic and particularly sad that his cause of death related to complications due to a bad diet.

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Peter Anthony's avatar

This is a deeply moving post. That photograph of Jack sitting upright in the chair, writing with what remained of his forearms, says more than a thousand words ever could. I had no idea that Allied soldiers were initially buried in open graves due to the sheer volume of casualties. That image will stay with me. You have done such a great job tracing his story and acknowledging those who helped identify him and connect him to his descendants. I also have relatives who served in both world wars, though I have not yet reached that part of my research, as I am still focused on the early Australian forebears. But I know that when I do, I will find stories marked by both sorrow and strength. Thank you for sharing Jack's story.

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Jean Hay's avatar

Yes, mass graves make sense to me, but open? I might have to do some more research around that. There is certainly nothing to indicate that in his service records, only that his body was moved into a new plot in 1921.

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