PAUL, John Charles (1893-1915)
Known as ‘Jack’, he was born on 11 April 1893, the son of John Keating Paul and Nora nee Ryan, of The Fort, Queenscliff, and educated at Geelong College, spending four years there before leaving in 1910 to enter Dalgety’s office in Geelong, working as a wool buyer.
He received a commission as Lieutenant on the outbreak of war, having attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and left with the first contingent, on HMAT 24 Benalla on 19 October, 1914. Pegasus of August, 1915 relates the circumstances of his death with B Company 8 Battalion on the day of the Landing, during the fighting along Bolton’s Ridge:
‘He was struck down when crossing an open space. Five of his men attempted to carry him in, but he ordered them to retire to cover. When they refused, he drew his revolver on them, and compelled them to withdraw and leave him there to die.’
According to his records held in the National Archives of Australia, his identity discs were recovered on the inland slope of Holly Ridge by members of the 9th Battalion on 28 June 1915, when they launched an unsuccessful attack from Holly Ridge towards Knife Edge. However he has no known grave - his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli. The battalion lost four officers (including Paul, Major Sergeant, Lt Barrett, Lt McLeod, one sergeant (Sgt Greenwood) and thirty-four other ranks on the day of the Landing.
Graeme Massey observed in his book, Gallipoli Heroes:
‘On learning of his son’s death Major J K Paul, (father of the deceased, who had for many years been an instructor at Queenscliff) requested a posting to the front, where he served with 32 Battalion until 21 July 1917.'
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p83 (citing Australian War Memorial; Graeme Massey, Gallipoli Heroes: a tribute to the men from Western Victoria who gave their lives for their country; Photo Pegasus August, 1915.)