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John Jessen

Conflict: 
WW1
Additional Information: 

Son of William and Christine Jessen, of Mauriceville West, New Zealand. Also served with the Advance Party at Samoa.

References:
  • CWGC
  • Archives New Zealand
Relatives Who Are Also Casualties:
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

John Jessen was born in Mauriceville West on 14 October 1890 to parents William August and Christine Jessen in the same year as their marriage, 1890. The family had moved to Wellington by 1908, when he joined the D Battery of the New Zealand Field Artillery Volunteers. He was discharged from the Volunteers on 7 August 1914 before joining the Samoan Expeditionary Force the following day. The force was ready to depart on 11 August but the actual departure was delayed until 15 August 1914 due to concerns about the adequacy of the force's escort.

He returned from Samoa and was discharged at his own request on the 22 March 1915 with the rank of Battery Sergeant Major. He worked as a clerk in the New Zealand Government Railways at Thorndon Railway Station, Wellington until his re-enlistment on 11 January 1916.

John Jesson embarked at Wellington on 26 June 1916 as part of the 14th reinforcements and disembarked at Devonport, England on 22 August, 1916. He left England for France on 10 February 1917 joining his unit at Etaples on 13 February. In May 1918 he was awarded the New Zealand Service Medal, with the riband being sent to him in France and the medal itself to his father in Wellington.

He was killed in action in France on the 24 August 1918, whilst serving with 9 Battery, NZFA.

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Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
2/1
Name:
John Jessen
Date of Birth:
14 October 1890
Place of Birth:
Mauriceville West, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Next of Kin: 
William Jessen (father), 9 Jessie Street, Wellington
Religion:
Lutheran
Date of Enlistment:
11 January 1916
Locality on Enlistment: 
9 Jessie Street, Wellington
Place of Enlistment: 
Wellington, New Zealand
Marital Status:
Single
Occupation on Enlistment:
Clerk
Employer:
New Zealand Railways, Thorndon Railway Station, Wellington
Unit:
New Zealand Field Artillery, 9 Battery

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Killed in action
Date of Death:
24 August 1918
Day of Death:
Saturday
Age at Death: 
28
Conflict: 
WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
Samoan Advance Party
Embarkation Place:
Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date:
15 August 1914
Transport:

HMNZT 1
HMNZT 2
Vessel:
Moeraki or Monowai
Destination:
Apia, Samoa

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery: 
Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension
Cemetery Reference: 
IV. P. 3.
Cemetery Location: 
France
John Jessen
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