Jack GerkeJack Gerke, was an officer in the Australian Army, serving in the Second World War and Korean War.BiographyGerke was born in Claremont, Western Australia on 7 June 1916. During the Second World War he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 6 August 1940. An assistant moulder before the war, he was appointed as a lieutenant in 1941 and served in the 2/16th Battalion and the 26th Battalion. Placed into the Reserve of Officers in 1947, he was promoted to captain in 1950 and served in the 3rd Battalion, [Royal Australian Regiment] during the Korean War in 1951–52. He was awarded the Distinguished [Service Order] for bravery and leadership during the Battle of Maryang San in July 1951. From 1952 to 1954 he served as officer commanding No. 1 Reinforcement Holding Unit. Reaching the rank of major, he resigned from the Army in 1954. In 1976 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to veterans. Gerke died on 14 February 2005 at the age of 88.