JACK, Alexander Douglas
Born 12 April 1891; Died 15 November 1918; Buried 16 November 1918; age 28
Service Number 12/2339
Made second-in-command to oversee 300 enemy aliens on Somes/Matiu Island after being severely wounded at Gallipoli and repatriated to New Zealand, Lieutenant Alex Jack caught the flu early in November 1918 and died in Wellington soon afterwards. He was buried in Karori Cemetery the next day.
Born 12 April 1891; Died 15 November 1918; Buried 16 November 1918; age 28
Service Number 12/2339
Made second-in-command to oversee 300 enemy aliens on Somes/Matiu Island after being severely wounded at Gallipoli and repatriated to New Zealand, Lieutenant Alex Jack caught the flu early in November 1918 and died in Wellington soon afterwards. He was buried in Karori Cemetery the next day.
He was born in Maungatapere near Whangarei, Northland, son of Norman Prime Jack and Mary Rebecca Ann GUILDING. His father was born in Auckland but also lived in Northland and Morrinsville while his mother, also born in Auckland, lived in Auckland. Norman and Mary were married in 1889 in Whangarei.
Norman started his working life in the family drapery business but by 1896 was farming in Maungatapere. Alexander, their first child, was followed by Catherine Seton (b1893), Edmund Robinson (b1895), Norman Price (b1896), Susan Jane (b1898), Mary Guilding (b1902) and Margaret Jessie (b1907).
When World War 1 was declared, Alexander and Edmund enlisted. Edmund, a draper by trade, enlisted on 13 August 1914 (Service # 12/1014) and left New Zealand on 13 October 1914 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion 15th Coy. A machine gunner, he arrived in Egypt on 4 December 1914. He was wounded twice in 1915, requiring brief stays in hospital and was killed on 5 September 1915 at the Dardanelles. His name is listed on the memorial at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Two months before Edmund’s death, his oldest sister Catherine passed away in Auckland on 11 December 1915. She was buried in Waikumete Cemetery, along with her father in 1924 and her mother in 1951.
Alex, a self-employed farmer at Maungaturoto, North Auckland, enlisted with the Auckland Infantry Regiment 5th Reinforcements and was assigned service # 12/2339. He left Wellington for Suez, Egypt in 1915 with the rank of lieutenant. In 1915 he was severely wounded at Gallipoli and on 4 September he was hospitalised in London.
Unable to return to active duty, he was based at the Hornchurch Convalescent Camp, 20 miles from London until he was returned to New Zealand on the Willochra in 1916. He was then appointed area officer at Taumarunui until being ordered to assist Major Mathieson on Somes Island, Wellington and became Assistant Commandant in March 1918. Somes Island held enemy aliens considered a risk to New Zealand’s security. Most of the around 300 prisoners on the island were German nationals. They had families, businesses and established lives throughout New Zealand, where some had been born. At the end of the First World War the facility was being used to quarantine returned soldiers who were suspected of carrying the influenza virus and the population swelled to 600. It is not known how many were affected.
In early November 1918 Alexander became unwell with influenza. After initial improvement, pneumonia developed, and he was transferred from Somes Island to the Victoria Military Hospital in Wellington where he died on 15 November. His burial took place at Karori Cemetery on 16 November in the services section. He did not marry.
Norman started his working life in the family drapery business but by 1896 was farming in Maungatapere. Alexander, their first child, was followed by Catherine Seton (b1893), Edmund Robinson (b1895), Norman Price (b1896), Susan Jane (b1898), Mary Guilding (b1902) and Margaret Jessie (b1907).
When World War 1 was declared, Alexander and Edmund enlisted. Edmund, a draper by trade, enlisted on 13 August 1914 (Service # 12/1014) and left New Zealand on 13 October 1914 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion 15th Coy. A machine gunner, he arrived in Egypt on 4 December 1914. He was wounded twice in 1915, requiring brief stays in hospital and was killed on 5 September 1915 at the Dardanelles. His name is listed on the memorial at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Two months before Edmund’s death, his oldest sister Catherine passed away in Auckland on 11 December 1915. She was buried in Waikumete Cemetery, along with her father in 1924 and her mother in 1951.
Alex, a self-employed farmer at Maungaturoto, North Auckland, enlisted with the Auckland Infantry Regiment 5th Reinforcements and was assigned service # 12/2339. He left Wellington for Suez, Egypt in 1915 with the rank of lieutenant. In 1915 he was severely wounded at Gallipoli and on 4 September he was hospitalised in London.
Unable to return to active duty, he was based at the Hornchurch Convalescent Camp, 20 miles from London until he was returned to New Zealand on the Willochra in 1916. He was then appointed area officer at Taumarunui until being ordered to assist Major Mathieson on Somes Island, Wellington and became Assistant Commandant in March 1918. Somes Island held enemy aliens considered a risk to New Zealand’s security. Most of the around 300 prisoners on the island were German nationals. They had families, businesses and established lives throughout New Zealand, where some had been born. At the end of the First World War the facility was being used to quarantine returned soldiers who were suspected of carrying the influenza virus and the population swelled to 600. It is not known how many were affected.
In early November 1918 Alexander became unwell with influenza. After initial improvement, pneumonia developed, and he was transferred from Somes Island to the Victoria Military Hospital in Wellington where he died on 15 November. His burial took place at Karori Cemetery on 16 November in the services section. He did not marry.
The New Zealand Herald published a death notice on 16 November:
JACK—In Wellington Hospital, of pneumonia influenza, contracted while on duty, Lieutenant Alexander Douglas, beloved eldest son of Norman P and Mary Jack, Morrinsville, late of Henderson; aged 28 years.
An obituary was published in the Dominion 16 November:
The death occurred in the Victoria Hospital at 1am yesterday of Lieutenant Alexander Douglas Jack, who was second in command at Somes Island under Major Mathieson. Lieutenant Jack had been suffering from influenza for a week past, and appeared to be on the mend, when pneumonia developed, and he was brought into town on Wednesday morning. The deceased, who was a single man, was the son of Mr. N P. Jack, of Morrinsville, and lately of the Whangarei district where his family is very well known. He was born at Maungatapere (Whangarei) 28 years ago, educated at the local school and the Whangarei District High School. When war broke out he was farming and having always been a keen territorial officer he offered his services and left New Zealand as a lieutenant with the Fifth Reinforcements. He was severely wounded at Gallipoli, subsequently spent two years in hospital, in England being eventually returned invalided to New Zealand. Here his health improved and he was appointed area officer at Taumarunui, a post he held until he was appointed to assist Major Mathieson on Somes Island. Lieutenant Jack was most highly esteemed as a soldier and a man, by all who knew him. Major Mathieson pays a fine tribute to conscientious qualities as a soldier and his sterling character generally, which made him respected and liked by everyone on the island.
Alex’s brother Norman (Service # 39683) also enlisted, in Auckland on 19 October 1916. Before enlisting he was working for the National Bank of New Zealand in Paparoa. He entered Trentham Camp with the 25th Reinforcements on 1 November 1916, but was admitted to the Trentham Hospital on 11 November with meningitis. After a 32-day stay in hospital he was declared unfit for service and was discharged from the army in July 1917.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot: 16 B
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – Papers Past - www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand / Archway - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Auckland War Museum – Online Cenotaph - www.aucklandmuseum.com
7. Department of Conservation – Defence History – www.doc.govt.nz
JACK—In Wellington Hospital, of pneumonia influenza, contracted while on duty, Lieutenant Alexander Douglas, beloved eldest son of Norman P and Mary Jack, Morrinsville, late of Henderson; aged 28 years.
An obituary was published in the Dominion 16 November:
The death occurred in the Victoria Hospital at 1am yesterday of Lieutenant Alexander Douglas Jack, who was second in command at Somes Island under Major Mathieson. Lieutenant Jack had been suffering from influenza for a week past, and appeared to be on the mend, when pneumonia developed, and he was brought into town on Wednesday morning. The deceased, who was a single man, was the son of Mr. N P. Jack, of Morrinsville, and lately of the Whangarei district where his family is very well known. He was born at Maungatapere (Whangarei) 28 years ago, educated at the local school and the Whangarei District High School. When war broke out he was farming and having always been a keen territorial officer he offered his services and left New Zealand as a lieutenant with the Fifth Reinforcements. He was severely wounded at Gallipoli, subsequently spent two years in hospital, in England being eventually returned invalided to New Zealand. Here his health improved and he was appointed area officer at Taumarunui, a post he held until he was appointed to assist Major Mathieson on Somes Island. Lieutenant Jack was most highly esteemed as a soldier and a man, by all who knew him. Major Mathieson pays a fine tribute to conscientious qualities as a soldier and his sterling character generally, which made him respected and liked by everyone on the island.
Alex’s brother Norman (Service # 39683) also enlisted, in Auckland on 19 October 1916. Before enlisting he was working for the National Bank of New Zealand in Paparoa. He entered Trentham Camp with the 25th Reinforcements on 1 November 1916, but was admitted to the Trentham Hospital on 11 November with meningitis. After a 32-day stay in hospital he was declared unfit for service and was discharged from the army in July 1917.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot: 16 B
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – Papers Past - www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand / Archway - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Auckland War Museum – Online Cenotaph - www.aucklandmuseum.com
7. Department of Conservation – Defence History – www.doc.govt.nz