Thomas JACKSON

Thomas JACKSON

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4816), Thomas Jackson was born at Longford, Derby, Derbyshire, England. He gave his age as 32 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall, weight 146 lbs., with a fair complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service.

Thomas Jackson had come to Australia about 1911, when he was 28 years of age.[1] The Wellington Times recorded “Jackson” as one of the four recruits who stepped forward offering to join the Coo-ee March when the Coo-ees recruited at Geurie on 15^th October 1915.[2]

He completed his medical on the 16^th October 1915 at Wellington, and was attested at Dripstone by Captain Nicholas on the 19^th October 1915.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

On 2^nd February 1916 Private Jackson was charged with being Absent Without Leave for one day. He was fined one days forfeiture of pay.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Longford, near Derby, England, and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs L. [Louisa] Jackson, Longford, near Derby, England.

On 8^th March 1916 Private Jackson along with many of the other Coo-ees departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and arrived in Egypt on the 11^th April 1916.

On the 3^rd of May 1916 Private JACKSON was hospitalised at the 31^st General Hospital at Port Said sick. He was discharged to duty on 2^nd June 1916.

Private Jackson proceeded overseas to join his unit in France [date and ship unknown], via England, leaving the 4^th Training Battalion at Rollestone on 30^th July 1916. He marched into the 4^th Division Base Depot at Etaples in France on 1^st August 1916. On 19^th August 1916 he was taken on strength of the 13^th Battalion whilst it was resting at Pernois, after just coming out of the line at Pozieres.

On 25^th September 1916 whilst the 13^th Battalion was in action in the vicinity of Voormezeele, Belgium, Private Jackson was admitted to the 12^th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from Enteritis. He rejoined the Battalion on the 1^st of October 1916.

On 11^th April 1917 Private Jackson was with the 13^th Battalion when it launched an unsuccessful attack on the Hindenburg Line in the vicinity of Bullecourt, France. During this attack Private Jackson was wounded in action, receiving shrapnel wounds to his face and neck. He was evacuated to the 56^th Casualty Clearing Station. On 13^th April he was admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen. On 14^th April he was admitted to the 2^nd Convalescent Depot at Rouen. On 21^st April he was discharged and sent to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. On 30^th April 1917 he rejoined the 13^th Battalion whilst the Battalion was conducting training at Ribemont, France.

On 28^th May 1917 Private Jackson was charged with being Absent Without Leave from Tattoo roll call on 24^th May 1917 from 9.00 pm to 9.45 pm whilst the Battalion was in training. He was fined one days pay.

On 16^th June 1917 Private Jackson was with the 13^th Battalion when it was manning support trenches in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium. Private Jackson was one of two men killed from the 13^th Battalion that day. Another five men were wounded.

Per his service record he was “buried N. of Hill 63 and about 250 yds N.E. of thatched cottage and about 100 yds West of above, close to Old Dugouts of support trench 1 ¾ mls S.S.W of Messines France”. However, Private Jackson’s grave could not be located after the war, and his name is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.

T. Jackson’s name on the Menin Gate Memorial (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Private Jackson’s name is commemorated on panel 69 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

His name is also remembered on the St. Chad’s Church War Memorial, at Longford in Derbyshire, England.[3]

[1] Thomas Jackson, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour Circular, https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1643701/

[2] ‘Hitchen’s Coo-ees’, Wellington Times, 18 October 1915, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143388423

[3] ‘Thomas Jackson’, Longford St. Chad’s Church War Memorial, Derbyshire, England, http://www.militaryimages.net/media/longford-church-war-memorial-derbyshire.57565/