JELL, John (1894-1917)
Born in 1894 in Yarra Glen The second son and third child of George Jell and Mary Ann Fletcher of Yarra Glen. Mary Ann died in January 1895 soon after Jacks birth.
Jack was 3 months short of his 21st birthday when he enlisted on 12 March 1915. He gave his occupation as farm labourer. He joined the 23rd Battalion D Company and embarked for Europe on the Euripides on 10 May 1915. In August 1915 Jack joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces in Gallipoli. He was wounded in December 1915 and suffered from the effects of frost bite during the early months of 1916. In May 1916 Jack rejoined his unit for service in France but received a gunshot wound in July1916 and was admitted to hospital. He rejoined his unit at the end of September 1916. In November 1916 he was transferred to England suffering with trench feet. In May 1917 Jack again re-joined his unit in France. Jack was killed in action on 3 October 1917 in Belgium
Jack is commemorated on the Yarra Glen Honour Roll, Yarra Glen War Memorial, Steels Creek Honour Roll and the Menin Gate, Belgium
