Jack White (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack White
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Jacob Weiss |
| Born | 23 December 1896 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 27 November 1949 Salford, Lancashire, England |
| Buried |
Blackley Cemetery
|
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1919 |
| Rank | Lance corporal |
| Service number | 18105 |
| Unit | King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Spouse(s) |
May Daniels
(m. 1921) |
Jack White (born Jacob Weiss; 23 December 1896 – 27 November 1949) was a brave British soldier. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage in battle. This special medal is given to soldiers from Britain and other Commonwealth countries.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the Army
Jack White was born Jacob Weiss in Leeds, England, on December 23, 1896. His family had moved to England from Russia. After finishing school, he started working in his family's waterproofing business.
When World War I began in 1914, Jack quickly volunteered to join the army. He joined the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster). He was supposed to go to France, but he missed his unit's departure because he was home for his father's funeral. Instead, he joined a different group, the 6th Battalion of his regiment.
Fighting in World War I
Jack's new battalion was part of the 13th (Western) Division. They first went to Gallipoli, a place where a big battle was happening. After that, his unit moved to Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). They were part of a group trying to help soldiers stuck in the Siege of Kut.
Even though the rescue attempt failed, Jack's unit kept fighting. In 1917, they took part in a counter-attack. It was during this time, while crossing a river, that Jack White showed incredible bravery.
His Amazing Bravery
Jack White was a private, which is a common soldier's rank, and he was 20 years old. On March 7-8, 1917, his unit was trying to cross the Diyala River in Mesopotamia. They were using special boats called pontoons.
The Victoria Cross Story
Jack was a signaller, meaning he helped with communications. He saw the two pontoons in front of his boat get hit by heavy machine-gun fire. This caused a lot of damage and injuries.
When his own pontoon reached the middle of the river, almost everyone on board was either dead or hurt. Jack was the only one still able to move. He realized he couldn't steer the boat by himself.
So, Jack quickly tied a telephone wire to the pontoon. Then, he bravely jumped into the water. He pulled the boat all the way to the shore by himself. Because of his quick thinking and courage, he saved an officer's life. He also managed to bring the rifles and equipment of the other soldiers to land.
For this amazing act of bravery, Jack White was given the Victoria Cross. This award was officially announced on June 27, 1917. He also received the Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valour.
Life After the War
After the war, Jack White became a lance corporal, a slightly higher rank. He returned to Manchester and started a new career. He trained to become a pattern cutter in a factory.
He worked hard and eventually became the General Manager of the factory. Later, he even became the owner of the business. Jack White passed away in 1949 at the age of 52.
In 1987, his heroic story was even featured in a comic strip in a magazine called The Victor.
