 On 16 April 1918
near Boisieux St. Marc, France, it was necessary for information to be
obtained from the front line and the only way to get it was over ground
with no cover and in full view of the enemy. A small party tried without
success, followed by six men, singly, each one being killed in the
attempt. Private Counter then volunteered and, going out under terrific
fire, got through and returned with vital information which enabled his
commanding officer to organise and launch the final successful
counter-attack. Subsequently he also carried five messages across the
open under heavy artillery barrage to company headquarters.
Jack Counter was born on 3 November 1898 in Blandford Forum and
served in the King's (Liverpool) Regiment. He died in Blandford on
16 September 1970 and was cremated at Bournemouth. A headstone in
his memory can be found in St Saviour's Churchyard, St Helier on the
Island of Jersey where his Victoria Cross is on public display in the
Jersey Museum, St Helier
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