Carl Jess

Lieutenant General Sir Carl Herman Jess CB, CMG, CBE, DSO (16 February 1884 – 16 June 1948) was an Australian Army officer who served in World War I and World War II.

Early life and career

Carl Herman Jess was born on 16 February 1884 in the city of Bendigo, Victoria, one of nine children of George Jess, a master German painter. He was educated at Violet Street State School in Bendigo, where he was also a teacher from 1899 to 1906.

In 1899, Jess joined the First Victorian Volunteer Cadets, rising to the rank of sergeant. In February 1902, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Victorian Infantry, again rising quickly through the enlisted ranks to lance corporal and then in 1903, lance sergeant and then sergeant in 1904. On 7 June 1906, he resigned from the militia and the Victorian Education Department in order to take up a position with the Instructional Staff of the permanent forces.

Jess was promoted to sergeant major on 1 January 1907. On 1 July 1909, he was commissioned as a full lieutenant. On 1 January 1911 he was sent to New South Wales as brigade major of the 5th Infantry Brigade with the rank of temporary captain, the rank became permanent on 1 July 1912. While there, he studied the Diploma of Military Science at the University of Sydney. He returned to Victoria as brigade major of the 15th Infantry Brigade. On 13 December 1911 he became staff officer in charge of administering the Universal Training scheme in Victoria. Then on 1 July 1914, he became Deputy Assistant Adjutants General of the 4th Military District (South Australia).