Jack Diamond Sumner POTTS
(Trooper 1203. Lieutenant AFC)
Birth: 22 April 1897 New Mouldon Middlesex, EnglandDeath: 4 Janary 1918 (age 20) Jenin, Palestine. Killed in Action Cemetery: Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel Memorial : St. Matthew's Cemetery The Oaks, NSW Father: Arthur Ernest POTTS (1857-1948) Mother: Lucretia Nannette "Louie" GILDERS (1858-1946) Jack gave his occupation as Jackeroo when he enlisted 15 May 1915 at Liverpool Sydney, and his next of kin his mother Lucretia Nannette Potts of 'Arcadia' Cross St. Longueville Sydney. He was appointed to the 8th Reinforcements of the 7th Light Horse Regiment A.I.F. and departed Sydney on 28 July 1915 on the 'Suffolk' and arrived Egypt December 1915. On 4 October 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. Jack was detached to the Royal Flying Corps for air instruction on 10 January 1917 then to 67 Squadron Australian Flying Corps (AFC) in May following the completion of his training. He was graded as First Class Pilot and qualified to wear Wings on 17 June 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October of that year. Jack and his brother followed in each others footsteps. Leonard Malcolm POTTS (Trooper 1181. Lieutenant AFC) was born 11 March 1895 in New Zealand and enlisted on 3 May 1915 at Light Horse Depot Liverpool Sydney. He gave his occupation as Bank Clerk and his next of kin his father Arthur Ernest Potts of 'Arcadia' Longueville Sydney. He was also appointed to the 8th Reinforcements of the 7th Light Horse Regiment A.I.F. and departed Australia 28 July 1915, with Jack, on the 'Suffolk' and arrived Egypt December 1915. Leonard also transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in 1917 and was graded as a 1st Class Pilot and qualified to wear Wings on 9 June 1917. Leonard returned to Australia on the 'Tofua' June 1918. The proceedings of a court on inquiry into the death of Jack found that; 'On January 4th 1918, Lieut. J.D.S Potts, Pilot and 2/Lieut. V.J. Parkinson, Observer, were flying an R.E.S, on a bomb raid on the enemy aerodrome at Jenin. They failed to return...On January 10th, a message was dropped by hostile aircraft which stated that our machine had been forced to land and that Lieut. Potts had been buried and that 2/Lieut. V.J. Parkinson was slightly wounded and was a Prisoner of War. It also stated that Lieut. Potts had been buried at Jenin, and enclosed a photograph of his grave. Read story of JDS Potts Lieutenant Jack Diamond Sumner POTTS was killed while flying over enemy territory on 4 January 1918 age20. |
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