John 'Jack' FITZGERALD

Constable John Fitzgerald, who preferred to be known as Jack, joined the Queensland Police in April 1915. A proficient horseman, he was stationed in Selwyn, a frontier mining town south of Cloncurry, and then at Duchess until he enlisted in early 1916. Gunner Fitzgerald embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Argyllshire AB on 11 May 1916. He was initially posted to the 7^th Depot Battalion but was then reposted to the 36th Battery, 9th Field Artillery Brigade and later to the 108th Battery. Fitzgerald and his Battalion were posted to the front on New Year's Eve 1916. Fitzgerald's unit was heavily involved in the combats of Messines Ridge and the 3rd Battle of Ypres. In 1918 Fitzgerald was promoted to Sergeant of the 108th Battery. Aged 25 years, he was killed at dawn on 30 March 1918, at Sailly-Le-Sec, when an enemy shell landed a few yards away of his position, killing him instantly.