Sidney Jackson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Sidney was born in Leicester on 31st July 1896 and was the son of George a goods guard on the Great Northern Railway and Ruth who had been born at Retford Jackson ,of 88 Ollerton Road,Retford George and Ruth had six children but only four of them survived to 1911. Sidney had two brothers Gilbert and Clifford and a sister Florence May. In the 1911 census the family are all living at 16 George Street Retford , Sidney is 14 years of age and is an errand boy a grocers store.
Sidney enlisted at Retford in January 1916 he served with the 2/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys ) Regiment . He was killed in action on 29th September 1917 along with two other men of the battalion when an aircraft bombed their position. He is buried in White House Cemetery, St Jean-les-Ypres grave reference I B 21
Pte Sidney Jackson Retford Times 19 Oct 1917 As briefly stated in our last issue, Mr and Mrs George Jackson 88 Ollerton Road, Retford have lost their eldest son in the war. “I very much regret to inform you,” Wrote Captain H P Greaves, commanding Light Trench Mortar Battery, attached to the Sherwood Foresters, “of the death of your son, Pte Sydney Jackson in action on Sept 29th. He was killed instantaneously. His loss to me is very great as he was one of the original members of this battery and was always willing and capable lad. Please accept my deepest sympathy in this your trouble. You may be sure his sacrifice is not in vain.” The deceased soldier was killed at the same time as Pte Basil J Webster, Worksop, and Pte Frank Selby, Newark. It was stated that the battery were leaving the trench for a rest camp and were congratulating themselves on escaping any casualty during their period of fighting when an enemy aeroplane flew over the lines and dropped a bomb on the party. Pte Jackson, who was 21 years of age on July 31st last, joined the colours on the first day that Lord Derby’s scheme came into operation in January 1916. He underwent his training at Watford an Harreaden and whilst home on leave, left Retford on Easter Monday 1916 to go with his regiment to Ireland to quell the Irish Rebellion. He went through a special training with a trench mortar battery at Aldershot. He was last at Retford in January when he came over in draft leave and in the following month left Salisbury Plain for France. The last letter he wrote home was to wish his father many happy returns for his birthday (Sept 19th) and the letter arrived on the 24th , the 23rd anniversary of his parents wedding day. Mr and Mrs Jackson came from Grantham to Retford in 1910. The eldest son served his apprenticeship with Messrs Hunter Ltd at Retford and was afterwards an assistant with the Home and Colonial Co at Sheffield, Wakefield, Doncaster Mansfield and Retford. He was much respected and his death is sincerely regretted. A memorial service will be held at the Parish Church on Sunday evening week the 28th for the late Pte S Jackson and H Willis, two old scholars of the Sunday School.
