1506 Pte. Lindsay Lee "Jacko" Jacgung Australian Imperial Force. D Company 38th Btn. from:Budgeree, Victoria. L.L.Jacgung was my grandfather. He was born in 1897 and was from a farm at Budgeree in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Although he was present at the formation of the battalion, he arrived in England as part of the second reinforcement before the battalion left for Belgium.
The unit's history records that they were shelled heavily when they arrived at the front line for the first time. There were three casualties and L L Jacjung was one of these, his service records states he was suffering from 'shell shock.' He was back at the front line after a few days in hospital.
He was gassed at Messines and again in the same year, but I believe he was at Passchendaele and Broodseinde Ridge. Due to the effects of the gas he spent a long period in hospital in England where he contracted pneumonia. He rejoined the 38th and was present at Mont St Quentin and the assault on the Hindenburg Line.
On returning to Australia in 1919, he was hospitalised. He never recovered fully from the effects of the gas and was eventually classified as 'totally and permanently incapacitated' and suffered respiratory problems until he died in 1973.
I believe he was a good shot and he continued competitive target shooting until at least his 60s. He was a Lewis gunner during the war.
One unusual note on his enlistment paper is that it says his 'grandfather was a Chinaman', which is true. His grandfather was from Canton and he married an Irish woman. Like many, they made and then lost their fortune during the gold rush, so they took up farming instead.
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