[1] His family moved to Wedderburn, Victoria, when he was five years old, where he attended the local school before working with his father as a haulage contractor.

[2] His career over three years took him along the southern side of the Murray River to Wedderburn, Cohuna, Koondrook, Lake Charm and Heathcote.

[6] Jacka fought in the Gallipoli campaign that started on 25 April 1915, when his new division landed at Anzac Cove on the 26th in the Dardanelles, fighting against Turkish defenders on a narrow beach and in the steep ravines and hills above.

[6][8] On 19 May 1915, the Turks launched an assault against the Anzac Line, capturing a section of the trench at Courtney's Post; one end of which was guarded by Jacka.

The party then proceeded to engage the Turks with rifle fire, throwing in two bombs as Jacka skirted around to attack from the flank.

Lance-Corporal Jacka at once most gallantly attacked them single-handed, and killed the whole party, five by rifle fire and two with the bayonet.Following his VC action, Jacka instantly became a national hero; he received the £500 and gold watch that the prominent Melbourne business and sporting identity, John Wren, had promised to the first Australian of the war to receive the VC, his image was used on recruiting posters and magazine covers,[13] and he received rapid promotions; first to corporal on 28 August, to sergeant two weeks later on 12 September, and then to company sergeant major on 14 November.

[6] After nine months of fighting and 26,111 Australian casualties, the Allied forces began to evacuate the peninsula in December 1915, after which Jacka's battalion was withdrawn to Egypt.

Jacka's division, on 23 July 1916, was involved in the attack of Pozières planned by Major General Harold Bridgwood Walker.

[citation needed] On the morning of 7 August 1916, after a night of heavy shelling, the Germans began to overrun a portion of the line which included Jacka's dug-out.

Jacka had just completed a reconnaissance, and had gone to his dug-out when two Germans appeared at its entrance and rolled a bomb down the doorway, killing two of his men.

[19] Jacka was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his actions at Pozières,[20] although he was originally recommended for the Distinguished Service Order.

The other bar to the VC was earned by Arthur Martin-Leake during the period 29 October to 8 November 1914 near Zonnebeke, Belgium, when, according to his award citation, Martin-Leake showed most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing, while exposed to constant fire, a large number of the wounded who were lying close to the enemy's trenches.

[citation needed] Although traditionally the reason Jacka was not awarded a bar to his VC has been ascribed to British snobbery towards a "rough colonial", this view has been challenged.

He attended an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on 29 September; receiving his Victoria Cross from King George V,[19] before rejoining his unit in November.

He penetrated the wire at two places, reported back, then went out again to supervise the laying of tapes to guide the assault parties; in the process he single-handedly captured a two-man German patrol.

Later, he rendered invaluable assistance in guiding troops to their assembly positions.Later, Jacka was given command of D Company, 14th Battalion, and in June led his men through the Battle for Messines Ridge.

[5] Albert Jacka's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra,[28] and a commemorative service is held on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of his death, 17 January, in St. Kilda to honour Jacka; originally organised by former members of the 14th Battalion, it is now held by Port Phillip City Council.