Name
Harry Jackson
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
91031
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 154 to 159.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials*1
Pre War
*1 There is no H Jackson listed on any Hitchin memorials, however there is a C H Jackson on the Hitchin Town Memorial and in the modern St Mary’s Church (Hitchin) Memorial Book, this man has not been identified and, perhaps, Harry is this man, and the initial ‘C’ is an error. It is thought that his full name was Charles Henry Jackson - it could be that he was known as Harry, is this man, but recorded on the memorial under his full name.
Harry was born in 1889 in Hitchin and christened on 26 Aug 1891 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin. His parents were Arthur and Beatrice Jackson
In 1891 the family were living at 1 Highbury Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Arthur (30) and Beatrice (29), with Arthur working as a practical sugar boiler. Their children were: Arthur (9), Alice (7), Alfred (4) and Harry (2).
By 1901 the family were living at 17 Salmon Terrace, Queen’s Road, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. Present were both parents, with Arthur (senior) recorded as a sugar confectioner. Their children were all those listed above plus Frank (9), Bernard (7), Willie (5) and Leslie at 5 months.
By 1911 the family had moved within Chesterton and were living at 37 Victoria Road. Present were both parents, Arthur (senior) now recorded as a sugar boiler. The census recorded they had been married for 29 years with 9 children, of whom 1 had died. The children now present were: Arthur, Alfred, Harry, Frank, Bernard, William (15) and Leslie Stuart (10).
Harry married Lydia Elizabeth Parsons (b 4/1/1897) at St Lukes Church, Chesterton Cambs., on 20 March 1915.
Harry was medically examined on 26 June 1916, presumably having been called up. He was 27 years and 155 days old working as a baker confectioner and described as 5’ 5” tall and 128lbs. At the time he was recorded as living at 5 St Michael’s Road, Louth, Lincs. (later amended to 90 Victoria Road, Cambridge, Cambs.). He enlisted into the Army Service Corps.
Officially Harry was recorded as born in Hitchin and enlisted in Louth, Lincolnshire
Wartime Service
There are amendments to some of his documents, but he seems ‘joined’ at Louth on 4 September 1916, although another record suggests 6 October 1916. The service record that he joined the Army Service Corps, Motor Transport as Private DM2/230838, and then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as Private 91031(*2).
He had 5 teeth extracted during January 1917.
After his period of his training and ‘Home’ service he was transferred to the 2nd Bn. Machine Gun Corps. On 3 April 1917 and then 2nd Bn. Overseas – stamped 2 August 1917. He embarked from Folkestone 3 August 1917 and landed in Boulogne on the same day. He spent about ten days at the Base Depot and then joined 152 Company in the Field on 10 August 1917 and then 32nd Company on the 16th.
He has no known grave(*3) and is remembered on Panels 154-159 & 163A of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing near Ypres in Belgium.
*2 There is a declaration in his service records, signed by Harry on 11 October 1916, stating that although he enlisted into the A.S.C. with appropriate pay, if he did not qualify as a driver within reasonable time he could be posted to another branch of the A.S.C. Perhaps he ndid not qualify and that is why he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.
*3 His named cross was recorded as in New Irish Farm (30/12/1919) in Plot 12. D. 1., map ref: 28.C.4.a.5.2. it read "R.I.P In Loving Memory of 91031. Pte H Jackson 32 M.G.C K. in Action. however it is recorded that no remains were found when the cemetery was excavated to concentrate the graves in to bother location.
Additional Information
His personal property was sent to his widow on 16 January 1918 at 59 Victoria Road, Cambridge, Cambs.
After Harry’s death his parent address was recorded as 81 Blytheswood Road, Sysleys, Birmingham.
After his death £2 2s 0d was authorised to go to Lydia Elizabeth Jackson, his widow, on 16 January 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 6 November 1919.
His pension cards record Lydia Elizabeth Jackson, his widow, as his dependant, living at 59 Victoria Road, Chesterton, Cambs. She was awarded a grant of £5 on 21 September 1917 and a pension of 18s 9d a week, inc 5s children’s allowance from 18 March 1918. The child was named as Margaret Beatrice (b 22/1/1916).
Lydis became Lydia Fairhurst, we think that she married Thomas Edward Fairhust on 29 June 1921 at St. John The Evangelist, Kensal Green: Harrow Road, Westminster.
His memorial scroll was sent to L E Fairhurst, at 115 Oliphant Street, Queens Park address in London W10 on 20 February 1924. She also applied for his medals while living at that address.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
