Address: "Rotorua", 44 Hill Street, Orange, later Spring Hill then 2 Warrendine Street, Orange
Occupation: Bottler
Next of kin: Arthur Edward West (father), "Rotorua", 44 Hill Street, Orange
Date of enlistment: 29 February 1916
Place of enlistment: Orange
Age at enlistment: 23
Fate: Embarked A37 "Barambah" Sydney 23 June 1916. Disembarked Plymouth 25 August 1916. Hospitalised 5 July 1916 suffering from tonsillitis. Hospitalised 13 October 1916. Proceeded to France 21 November 1916. Nominated for Military Medal 2 March 1918. Returned to Australia 10 August 1919. Discharged 25 September 1919.
Date of death: 12 December 1968, aged 75 years, Orange
Jack Hilton West was working as a bottler at Walker's Brewery when he enlisted in February 1916. He embarked in June the same year and served as a Private, later Corporal in the 34th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements in France.
In March 1918 Jack was nominated for a Military Medal. The nominating officer stated:
"Private West has set a fine example of endurance and courage to the men of the battalion frequently under the most trying conditions as a signaller and linesman. "By his willingness and total disregard of danger he assisted in keeping communication throughout the battalion."
Jack returned to Australia in August 1919. In 1921 he married Nellie Valerie Gardiner; the couple had two boys, John and Don. Don served in WWII; he was killed in action in Bougainville in May 1945.
Jack's name appears on the Holy Trinity Church Orange Honour Roll.
Jack's brother Claude Bertie West also served in WWI; he died of wounds received in action in France in May 1917.
