George Jackson

'B' Coy

George Jackson enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 6 May 1907 aged 18 years. He listed his occupation as printer and was 5 feet 6 inches in height. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion which at the time was on home duty. He served for 5 years with the colours and entered the army reserve on 3 May 1912. On the outbreak of war George was mobilized and sent to the 2nd Battalion in France on 11th November 1914 and he is likely to have been part of the 40 strong reinforcement rushed out to Bois Grenier to make up for the heavy losses of October. A reinforcement of some 560 men joined the following week. The battalion found itself at Villers Bretonneux looking down on Amiens and awaiting an enemy attack. The British had taken several prisoners in the previous days who warned that an attack would take place on 24th April 1918. The German attack began at 7am on an 800 yard front and by 9.30 am tanks were seen moving to attack the flanks. A battalion of the Devons was already protecting this flank and the GOC 23rd Brigade asked permission for the 1st Battalion to mount a counter attack and once given, the battalion moved forward but met with heavy opposition. At this point the battalion’s Commanding Officer was wounded and correct orders were not given. The battalion moved back and commenced to dig in and came under heavy 5.9 artillery fire and suffered severely. George was one of 30 men killed during the day and 17 of them have no known grave. They are commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme. The battalions total casualties for the day were 234 all ranks, although the German advance had reached its high water mark .

John Morse

Soldiers Effects Register –
11/9/1918 - £52-16s-5d -:
£10-11s-4d – brother Henry
£10-11s-4d – brother Frederick
£10-11s-3d to sisters – Mary Green, Emily Bagshaw and May Hind;
War Gratuity - £26-10s-0d – 16/12/1919 –
£5-6s-0d to siblings – Henry, Frederick, Mary Green, Emily Bagshaw and May Hind.