Decorative discharge certificate for Jacob Phillip Grimish
Object numberM2021/020:007
TitleDecorative discharge certificate for Jacob Phillip Grimish
DescriptionLithographic print of a discharge certificate honouring the service of Private Jacob (Jack) Phillip Grimish of the 9th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces. Private Jacob (Jack) Grimish enlisted in 1914 in Queensland and was placed in one of the first infantry units recruited in Queensland, the 9th Battalion. After fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula in September 1915, Jack fell ill and was transferred to hospital to recover. Ultimately Jack was discharged with chronic bronchitis on 19 June 1916 and travelled back to Queensland.
Honourable discharge certificates recognised the service of soldiers returning from the war. This award was given to soldiers returning wounded or disabled from the war effort, giving many soldiers and their families a formal recognition of service within the home.
Part of collection of objects relating to the military service of Barney Bernard Grimish and Jacob (Jack) Phillip Grimish.
Jack Grimish was born in 1889, the son of Samuel Grimish (formerly Grzimish), a Jewish immigrant from London with Prussian heritage, and Emily Jane Grimish (nee Phillips), a second generation Australian Jew. Jack grew up in Brisbane, Queensland with his three living siblings, Bernard (Barney) Aaron Grimish, Sarah Phyllis Numan / Jeffs (nee Grimish) and Clara Jeffery (nee Grimish). After the death of both his parents in 1901 and 1902, the siblings were separated, with Barney, Clara and Sarah Phyllis taken into care at the Government run Diamantina Orphanage in Brisbane, Queensland in October 1902. Jack was thirteen and was not listed under care.
Jack was working as a barman in Brisbane when he enlisted at Enoggera, Queensland with the Australian Infantry Force on the 10 September 1914 at the age of 25. He embarked from Australia under the 9th Battalion 3rd Brigade, training in Egypt before deployment at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. In a letter to his uncle Baron Grimish on 16 August 1915, he recalls taking cover behind his pack, hiding behind it before crawling up a gully and "made a wild bull charge up that same hill." He speaks of the relief of fellow soldiers as they mustered back to the beach after two and a half days fighting, stating, "When we all got together you never heard so much shouting, as we were greeting one another 'Hello Bill, still alive', or 'There you are Jack.'"
In May 1915, Jack was reunited with his brother Barney in the trenches of Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion. Jack was unaware Barney had enlisted to fight as both lived in separate states before the war. Jack writes to his uncle; "I have met Barney after fifteen years! I think this is a record for brothers to meet after such a length of time on the battlefield... I think ours is a record which will take some beating." On 6 November 1915, Barney was transferred to the 9th Battalion and continued to serve at Gallipoli with Jack.
Jack contracted dysentery and was hospitalised in Malta on 4 September 1915. On 19 June 1916, Jack was discharged from service with chronic bronchitis, travelling aboard the 'Themistocles' back to Australia. Jack would not to see his brother Barney again. Barney was killed in action at the Battle of Amiens on 11 August 1918.
On return to Australia, Jack married Elizabeth Ann (Lilian) Grimish (nee Laycock) in June 1917 and had a son, Bernard Phillip Grimish. He continued to live and work in New Farm, Queensland until his death in 1968.
Honourable discharge certificates recognised the service of soldiers returning from the war. This award was given to soldiers returning wounded or disabled from the war effort, giving many soldiers and their families a formal recognition of service within the home.
Part of collection of objects relating to the military service of Barney Bernard Grimish and Jacob (Jack) Phillip Grimish.
Jack Grimish was born in 1889, the son of Samuel Grimish (formerly Grzimish), a Jewish immigrant from London with Prussian heritage, and Emily Jane Grimish (nee Phillips), a second generation Australian Jew. Jack grew up in Brisbane, Queensland with his three living siblings, Bernard (Barney) Aaron Grimish, Sarah Phyllis Numan / Jeffs (nee Grimish) and Clara Jeffery (nee Grimish). After the death of both his parents in 1901 and 1902, the siblings were separated, with Barney, Clara and Sarah Phyllis taken into care at the Government run Diamantina Orphanage in Brisbane, Queensland in October 1902. Jack was thirteen and was not listed under care.
Jack was working as a barman in Brisbane when he enlisted at Enoggera, Queensland with the Australian Infantry Force on the 10 September 1914 at the age of 25. He embarked from Australia under the 9th Battalion 3rd Brigade, training in Egypt before deployment at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. In a letter to his uncle Baron Grimish on 16 August 1915, he recalls taking cover behind his pack, hiding behind it before crawling up a gully and "made a wild bull charge up that same hill." He speaks of the relief of fellow soldiers as they mustered back to the beach after two and a half days fighting, stating, "When we all got together you never heard so much shouting, as we were greeting one another 'Hello Bill, still alive', or 'There you are Jack.'"
In May 1915, Jack was reunited with his brother Barney in the trenches of Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion. Jack was unaware Barney had enlisted to fight as both lived in separate states before the war. Jack writes to his uncle; "I have met Barney after fifteen years! I think this is a record for brothers to meet after such a length of time on the battlefield... I think ours is a record which will take some beating." On 6 November 1915, Barney was transferred to the 9th Battalion and continued to serve at Gallipoli with Jack.
Jack contracted dysentery and was hospitalised in Malta on 4 September 1915. On 19 June 1916, Jack was discharged from service with chronic bronchitis, travelling aboard the 'Themistocles' back to Australia. Jack would not to see his brother Barney again. Barney was killed in action at the Battle of Amiens on 11 August 1918.
On return to Australia, Jack married Elizabeth Ann (Lilian) Grimish (nee Laycock) in June 1917 and had a son, Bernard Phillip Grimish. He continued to live and work in New Farm, Queensland until his death in 1968.
Production placeBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Production date circa 1916
SubjectWorld War I (1914-1918), Australian armed forces, Australian Army, Anzacs, soldiers, wounded soldiers
Object nameservice records
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 352.00 mm
height: 316.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Dr Michael Briner
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.