Jack Peat came from Dargaville where he was in business as a registered Chemist. He signed up for ambulance service in 1914 but didn't enter camp until the following year, embarking with the Reinforcement draft which left New Zealand on the troopship "Manuka" on 29 July 1915. He spent the next 3-1/2 years serving with the Mounted Field Ambulance in Sinai -Palestine. His service was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette, 1 December 1916), and he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In October 1918 he was admitted to hospital suffering from malaria and died a month later on 17 November 1918, of "Malaria and Broncho Pneumonia", at Kantara, in Palestine .

The personal effects later returned to his family included a photograph album with photos taken and developed by Jack; they are are well captioned and provide a glimpse of the three and a half years spent with the Mounted Field Ambulance. In addition the family received a small assortment of souvenirs that he had collected.