Private James Jensen Bak
15th Battalion, AIF
By James Martin
James Jensen Bak, the son of Julius and Christine Bak, was born in Maryborough on 2 October 1895 and lived at that time with his parents at Yengarie.
James was a farmer. He enlisted in the AIF on 17 September 1914 at Maryborough at the age of 18 years and 10 months.
James’ Army enlistment papers show that he was a member of the Tiaro Rifle Club. He was 5ft 6.5in tall and was posted to the 15th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, at Enoggera, Brisbane.
He embarked on the Ceramic on 22 December 1914 and became part of the initial Gallipoli landing.
On 9 May 1915 (15 days after landing) he suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm and shoulder at Quinn’s Post.
On 15 May 1915 he sailed on the Lutzow to the 17th AGH (Australian General Hospital) in Alexandria. Two days later he boarded the Nevasa for England and the No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Haresfield, Middlesex.
On 7 November 1915 he sailed from Portsmouth to Australia on the Runic and was discharged in Brisbane on 19 April 1916.
On 21 June 1919 James married Alice Ruby Keyburne. They had three sons, Les, Ken and Cecil. Cecil and Les were later members of North Queensland’s 51st Battalion. After their marriage Alice and James lived at Neardy Street, Bauple.
Their eldest son Cecil, a lieutenant with the 31st/51st Battalion, was killed on 11 February 1945 at Tsimba Ridge, Bougainville. He is buried at Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby.
Another son, Les, was awarded the Military Medal for carrying three of his comrades to safety, acting as a runner between sections during a flanking attack and taking command of his section after his section commander was killed.
James and Ruby left Helen Street, Cooktown in 1945 after hearing of Cecil’s Death, returning to their home at White Rock.
When the war was over in the Pacific and Islands, Les and Ken also returned to White Rock and their parents. They were only 23 and 22 years of age respectively and had lost their eldest brother to the war.
They just wanted to be together.
After the war Les worked on the wharves in Cairns.
Jim returned to work with the Main Roads after a while as foreman over a gang constructing roads well beyond Mareeba and the Atherton Tableland.
It was hard work and James passed away at Walsh River, Chillagoe on 12 August 1948 of coronary atheroma at only 53 years of age. He is buried at Chillagoe in Queensland. His workmen dug his grave to lessen the cost to his family who were still living at White Rock, south of Cairns at the time.
In 1954 Ruby bought a home on Hannam Street which was in Cairns but on the southern side as close as she could get to White Rock. Les lived with his mother for several years. In fact he probably bought the house for her.
On 12 July 1967 Alice applied, as next of kin, for the Anzac Medallion.
Jim is listed on memorials at Tiaro (township) Memorial, Tiaro Uniting Church Honour Board and the Granville State School Memorial.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.