Geboortedatum: 29/10/1884

Geboorteplaats: Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australië

Beroep: Landbouwer

Land: Australië

Strijdmacht: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Private

Service nummer: 3105

Dienstneming datum: 20.11.1916

Dienstneming plaats: Brisbane, Queensland, Australië

Eenheden:  —  Australian Infantry, 52nd Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Datum van overlijden: 26/09/1917

Plaats van overlijden: Albania, België

Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Leeftijd: 32

1914-15 Star Medaille

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

Private John Akers ( 52nd Bn., 13rd Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division ) was killed in action on the 26th of September 1917, the day that marks the beginning of the Battle of Polygon Wood.
The divisions of the Anzac Corps that were located southwest of the centre of Zonnebeke were the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions. The jumping off line was J.3.a.5.9. – J.9.b.5.7 – J.9.d.0.4.. The 5th Australian Division was positioned on the right and they were assigned to take over Polygon Wood. The 4th Australian Division was positioned on the left and attacked with the 4th and 13th Australian Brigades, respectively located on the right and the left in between the divisional borders. The main goal of the 13th Brigade was to seize Brick Yard ( D.28.a.0.0. )
Both divisions were successful in obtaining the two objectives ; the Red Line and the Blue Line ; and consolidating those lines.
Due to some inaccurate information concerning the division and brigade to which the 52nd battalion belonged, it’s difficult to determine were private Akers exactly fell on the 26st of September. Nonetheless, we presume that he fell between Albania Farm and Brick Yard. He is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

52nd Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/69/18). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Verdere verwijzing

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, AKERS J). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx Gebruikte bronnen

McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account , (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 85, 87-89. Gebruikte bronnen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1597330

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=7f034f30-4e4b-4168-b6a8-9e224a85ae9d

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7339878

The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=1933