Jack Gerke

Jack Gerke, DSO, AM (7 June 1916 – 14 February 2005) was an officer in the Australian Army, serving in the Second World War and Korean War.

Jack Gerke
Born(1916-06-07)7 June 1916
Claremont, Western Australia
Died14 February 2005(2005-02-14) (aged 88)
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1940–1954
RankMajor
Unit3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Battles/warsSecond World War
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Member of the Order of Australia

Biography

Gerke was born in Claremont, Western Australia on 7 June 1916. During the Second World War he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) on 6 August 1940.[1] An assistant moulder before the war, he was appointed as a lieutenant in 1941 and served in the 2/16th Battalion and the 26th Battalion.[2] Placed into the Reserve of Officers in 1947, he was promoted to captain in 1950 and served in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) during the Korean War in 1951–52.[2] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery and leadership during the Battle of Maryang San in July 1951.[3] From 1952 to 1954 he served as officer commanding No. 1 Reinforcement Holding Unit. Reaching the rank of major, he resigned from the Army in 1954.[2] In 1976 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to veterans.[4] Gerke died on 14 February 2005 at the age of 88.[5]

Notes
  1. "Gerke, Jack". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  2. O'Neill 1985, p. 642.
  3. "GERKE, Jack: Distinguished Service Order". It's an Honour. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  4. "GERKE, Jack: Member of the Order of Australia". It's an Honour. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. "Cycling WA Life Members" (PDF). Cycling WA. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

References
  • O'Neill, Robert (1985). Australia in the Korean War 1950–53: Combat Operations. Volume II. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 978-0-642-04330-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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