John Carroll (soldier)

He fought through trenches, digging out two buried comrades.

John Carroll, known as Jack, was born in Brisbane in 1891 to Irish-born parents. His family moved to Western Australia while he was a child. He worked around the goldfields and on the railway at Kurrawang before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in April 1916. Sent to Britain with reinforcements for the 44th Battalion, he transferred to the 33rd Battalion and reached France that November.

During the Battle of Messines in June 1917, Carroll repeatedly acted on his own initiative. At St Yves he rushed a trench and killed four defenders, then helped a comrade in difficulty. He attacked a machine-gun crew, killing three men and capturing the gun. Later, when shellfire buried two Australians, he dug them out despite continued shelling and machine-gun fire. His example over several days earned the Victoria Cross.

Wounded in July, he returned to duty and became a lance corporal. Another serious wound at Passchendaele in October took him to hospital in Britain. King George V presented his VC in March 1918. He returned to Australia with other decorated soldiers to help recruitment and was discharged in January 1919.

Carroll resumed railway work and married Mary Brown in Perth in 1923. A shunting accident at a timber mill in 1927 crushed his right foot, which had to be amputated, but he continued working. He retired to the Perth area and died on 4 October 1971. He was buried with military honours at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation:

For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack, immediately the barrage lifted, Private John Carroll rushed the enemy’s trench and bayoneted four of the enemy. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties, and at once proceeded to his comrade’s assistance and killed one of the enemy. He continued working ahead with great determination until he came across a machine gun and team of four men in a shell-hole. Single-handed he attacked the entire team, killing three of the men and capturing the gun. Later on two of his comrades were buried by a shell, and, in spite of very heavy shelling and machine gun fire, he managed to extricate them. During the 96 hours the battalion was in the line Private Carroll displayed most wonderful courage and fearlessness. His magnificent example of gallantry and devotion to duty inspired all ranks in his battalion.