Jackson VC. Australia's youngest VC

^INTRODUCTION

^{Ever since Dr
Charles E W Bean, in volume 111 of the Official History of Australia
in the War of 1914-1918, ‘The AIF in France’ referred to W}illiam Jackson VC as being a Farmer from Merriwa, N.S.W. Other historians such as Lionel Wigmore in ‘They Dared Mightily’ (1963) followed his lead adding that Jackson had been educated in Merriw^{a where he lived
and worked with his parents on their property.}

These inaccuracies along with others regarding Jackson’s service during both World War’s are still being perpetuated in various print media.

My research has revealed that while Jackson did live in the town of Merriwa for seven years it was not until after his return from the First World War.

Controversy regarding the Medals Jackson was entitled wear, and those he wore raged for almost fifty years. In January 1942 Jackson when replying to the Officer in Charge of the Base Records, wrote that if he was not entitled to the medals he wore somebody had slipped and slipped badly in issuing them to him.

Even five years after his death the Director of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra still was unsure of Jackson’s entitlement to wear medals that various sources claimed he had been awarded. The 1981 Register of the Victoria Cross shows Jackson as holding the VC and DCM. Despite claims by Historians that Jackson was awarded and wore the Military Medal, Jackson was never recommended for, awarded, or wore the Military Medal.

Despite this on 11 November 2001 a plaque in honour of Jackson was unveiled on the Balmain, Sydney, War Memorial reading L/Cpl John William Alexander Jackson VC., DCM., MM.

CITATION: For most conspicuous bravery. On the return from a successful raid, several members of the raiding party were seriously wounded in No Man's Land by shell fire. Private Jackson got back safely and, after handing over a prisoner whom he had brought in, immediately went out again under a very heavy shell fire and assisted in bringing in a wounded man. He then went out again, and with a sergeant was bringing in another wounded man, when his arm was blown off by a shell and the sergeant was rendered unconscious. He then returned to our trenches, obtained assistance, and went out again to look for his two wounded comrades. He set a splendid example of pluck and determination. His work has always been marked by the greatest coolness and bravery.

(London Gazette: 9th September 1916.)

HIS EARLY LIFE

William ‘Billy’ Jackson VC, was born John William Alexander Jackson on the 13th of September 1897 at "Glengower" station at Gunbar, a small settlement 80km (50m) north of Hay, New South Wales. The fourth child and eldest son of a twenty nine year old Paddington (Sydney) born farm labourer John Gale Jackson and his wife Adelaide Ann nee McFarlane.

Adelaide, the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth McFarlane (nee Marks), had married John Jackson in 1890 at "Seaton Farm" the home of her parents at Gunbar, John being the son of William and Mary Jackson (nee Gale).

^{Billy Jackson was
only eight years of age when his mother died on November 15th, 1905. Two
of his elder sisters had predeceased their mother, Eliza b 1891, died on
January 20th, 1894, Alice b 1893 died on the 29th June, 1903 as a result
of an accidental shooting.}

Their grand-parents the McFarlane’s, then cared for Billy his three sisters Elizabeth, Catherine and May and two brothers Albert and Leslie, while their father John continued to work on Gunbar Station.

John and Elizabeth McFarlane who married in 1872 had fourteen children, while raising the four children born to John and his first wife who had died in 1866. Then on the death of their eldest daughter, Adelaide Jackson, John and Elizabeth took into their home her six children.

John McFarlane born in 1836 in Aberdeen, Scotland, had established a carrying business in the Yass area before moving to Gunbar where he carted wool to Sydney with a team of Clydesdale’s, sometimes as many as eighteen. Elizabeth acted as midwife for the other women in the settlement.

Billy Jackson, "Jacko" to his mates, during his early teenage years had built a reputation in Gunbar for his strength and reckless daring, so nobody was surprised when he left his employer, Mr William Gibson, of "Carlowrie" on the 15th February, 1915 aged just 17 years and five months and, with the approval of his father raised his age by twelve months to be amongst the first volunteers from Gunbar to enlist in the AIF.

THE FIRST WORLD WAR

At Liverpool on the 20th February, 1915 Jackson swore his allegiance to the King and agreed to serve in the AIF for the duration, plus four months. Records show Jackson was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 12 stone, had fair hair and complexion, grey eyes, and was of the Presbyterian religion.

Appointed to B Company of the 17th Battalion, 5th Infantry Brigade, AIF, his regimental number was 588. He embarked for training at Heliopolis, Egypt in May, 1915. On the 12th August, 1915 he was detailed for special duty in Alexandria, prior to landing on Gallipoli on the 20th August, he took part in the initial attack on Kaiajik Aghyl (Hill 60) on the following day.

Hospitalised at Gallipoli on the 3rd October, 1915 suffering from diarrhoea and a problem with his teeth, he was taken by the Hospital Ship ‘Assaye’ to a hospital in Malta, where on the 7th January, 1916 his campaign almost came to an end when he was put on board the ‘Esquibo’ to be returned to Australia. Three days out he was off-loaded and admitted to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital Cairo, suffering from dysentery.

Returning to duty on the 15th February, 1916, he rejoined his battalion on the 8th March, 1916, embarking with them from Alexandria on the 17th March for Marseilles, France as part of the 2nd Division, they disembarked on the 23rd March and relieved the Northumberland Fusiliers

On the 10th of April his division took over a forward position in the eastern Armentieres sector. Relieving the 3rd Brigade, here, as a prelude to the Battle of the Somme, orders were issued that as many raids as possible were to be carried out on the enemy positions between the 20th and 30th June, 1916.

Jackson volunteered for these operations and at midnight on the night of 25th/26th of June he acted as a scout for a party that consisted of 40 Officers and men, led by Captain Keith Heritage when they carried out a raid that had been planned by General W. Holmes on the forward trenches of the 231st Prussian reserve infantry regiment. (Capt Heritage of the 19th Battalion was killed in action one month later, Major General Holmes C.M.G., D.S.O., the 5th brigade commander was killed by shellfire on July 2nd 1917 in France).

The preceding artillery barrage had forced many of the Germans to abandon their positions, despite this the Australians encountered heavy machine-gun fire as they approached their objective.

The Engineers with the party were quick to blown up two bomb stores while the remainder of the party attacked the enemy trenches their task was to bring back prisoners for interrogation.

Jackson revealed the coolness and bravery later mentioned in his citation both during and after the raid. He captured one of the enemy and returned safely with him through the 400 yard No-Man’s land to his own lines, despite the intense barrage of enemy shell and machine gun fire.

On learning that some of the party had been hit, Jackson said " He didn’t like the idea of leaving any wounded men out in No-Man’s land", and immediately returned into the enemy barrage and successfully rescued one of his wounded comrades, on his second rescue mission while still ignoring the intensifying bombardment he was assisting Sergeant Camden of the 19th Battalion to bring in Pte. Robinson, who had been seriously wounded. The blast from a exploding shell rendered Camden unconscious and blew off Jackson’s right arm above the elbow as well as inflicting further wounds to Robinson.

Despite the loss of his arm Jackson, who said he " didn’t feel much just a numbing sensation" returned to his lines, where an officer applied a tourniquet to his arm using a piece of string and a stick.. Then believing that Camden and others to be still out in No-Man’s land, Jackson continued to search for another half an hour until he satisfied himself that all the wounded had been brought in, he was then sent to hospital.

Casualties sustained by the Germans during the raid were thirty killed and four captured, while the Australians had one killed [Robinson] and thirteen wounded. (Private Alfred Edward Robinson died of wounds on the 3rd July 1916.)

The Hospital Ship ‘St Patrick’ took Jackson from Boulogne to England, where on the 30th June at the 3rd London General Hospital the remainder of his right arm was amputated.

On the 20th July he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, which had been set up in the grounds of an estate known as Harefield Park, Middlesex, now part of Greater London. On the 26th October he was transferred to the Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, before being admitted to Queen Mary’s General Hospital

To date Jackson remains the youngest Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross. His Victoria Cross was the first won on the Western Front by an Australian.

The recommendation that Jackson be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions came from the General Officer Commanding the 5th Australian Infantry Brigade. The GOC also praised Jackson for his ability as a scout, both with the raiding party and his own battalion.

The approval of the Victoria Cross for Jackson, by King George V was gazetted on the 8th Sept. 1916, just five days before his nineteenth birthday. The King’s approval of a Distinguished Conduct Medal for Jackson was gazetted two weeks later on September 22nd.1916.

Both these awards were promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. 184, on the 14th December, 1916. The Department of Defence notified John Jackson of both awards to his son, the VC & DCM on the 4th January, 1917.

Sergeant Camden, who was with Jackson when he was wounded, managed to find his own way back to his lines and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. for the part he played in the rescue of the wounded that night.

Jackson remained in England until the 4th May, 1917, at which time he was invalided back to Australia along with 992 returning servicemen aboard the H.M.A.T. "Themistocles", which arrived in Sydney on the 5th July 1917.

BETWEEN THE WARS

Jackson, the first soldier from New South Wales to return from World War 1 with a VC, was hoisted shoulder high at the reception held at the Anzac Buffet in the Domain for the returning wounded soldiers.

On Thursday 26th July, 1917 Private Jackson VC visited Hay accompanied by Sergeant Camden DCM. They were met at the railway station by a large crowd before being conveyed to the Post Office square where he was officially welcomed.

The Deputy Mayor of Hay, Mr Butterworth, said in welcoming Jackson " I have the greatest of pleasure in extending the welcome of the people of Hay…". He then added that, "…They did not want to deprive Gunbar of one iota of the glory but they were enjoying a degree of reflected glory from the fact that Jackson was always referred to as being from Gunbar near Hay".

Butterworth speaking of Jackson’s deeds said "It was one of the incidents of this war, which so far as this district is concerned, will never be forgotten".

Sergeant Camden told the crowd "Bill [Jackson] had gone out looking for him without his arm. Not looking for a VC but for a cobber".

On his subsequent visit to Gunbar, the people of that district, wishing to show their appreciation, offered to buy Jackson a farming property, he declined their offer believing that the loss of his right arm would render him unable to work on the land. William Jackson VC was discharged from the AIF on the 15th of September, 1917.

Although Jackson’s DCM was subsequently cancelled due to the higher award of the Victoria Cross being conferred, by an announcement in the London Gazette on the 21st October, 1916, it was not until the 14th April, 1919 that the AIF base records office notified the pension authorities and John Jackson of the cancellation of the DCM that had been awarded to William Jackson VC.

John Jackson, still living and working on Gunbar Station, Gunbar, was then asked to return the official notification he had received concerning the awarding of the DCM to his son more than two years earlier. He replied that he had passed on the notification to Bill who was living at an address unknown to him in Sydney.

Lack of communications between sections of the Army is evident here as the Army was at that time sending William Jackson VC, his pension to "Yuletide", Duke Street, Kensington, where he lived in close proximity to members of his father’s family.

It was shortly after this that Jackson VC. moved to Merriwa, where in 1920 he and Leslie (later Sir Leslie) Morshead. D.S.O. became members of the newly formed Returned Serviceman's League, Sub Branch.

Living firstly in Bettington Street and later at the Fitzroy Hotel. Jackson became a dealer, buying and selling horses and skins and, despite his disability, was building himself a home in Flags Road. He left Merriwa in 1927 to become the licensee of the Figtree Hotel at Figtree, a suburb of Wollongong, for eighteen months.

On the 14th November, 1930 while residing at the Peoples Palace, King Street, Melbourne, he notified the Army that his discharge certificate had been lost in a fire that destroyed his home at Merriwa in 1926. It was then that Jackson was belatedly sent his Victory Medal.

During the Depression he had several jobs, including managing a greengrocery business and a position as clerk with the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage & Drainage Board, in Sydney.

Jackson married Ivy Muriel Alma Morris, a dressmaker, at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Kogarah on the 12th January 1932. They had one child a daughter Dorathea.

In August 1935 while living at 91 St George Pde., Hurstville Jackson applied as a relative for the Returned Soldiers Badges of L/Cpl. E. Yule, No. 567 of the 1st L.H.Regiment and Pte. T. Holman, No. 1710 of the 17th Battalion, AIF, as a keepsake.

THE SECOND WORLD WAR

While living at 54 Vine Street, Hurstville, Jackson enlisted at Paddington and served as Corporal/Acting Sergeant J.W.Jackson VC in Eastern Command Provost Company, No N107906, from 31st March, 1941, till 30th March, 1942.

In December of 1941 Jackson was interrogated regarding his wearing of a D.C.M. ribbon, he then produced the notification his father had received in January 1917 concerning him being awarded the DCM and denied any knowledge of the cancellation of this award. He further stated that as well as having in his possession the medal and the official gazette of the medal, the award had also been entered in his pay book and was on his discharge.

It was then suggested to Jackson that he return his D.C.M.. He replied that he would continue to wear his six medals, (V.C., D.C.M., 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1937 King George V1 Coronation Medal), and rather than surrender any of these he would apply for a discharge and let the matter be decided in Court.

Jackson was then discharged at his request. It would appear as if the Army relented most likely on the advice of the War Office in London. Who while agreeing that the D.C.M., had been cancelled, advised that it had no knowledge of any steps ever having been officially taken to recover the medal, it also thought it undesirable to order Jackson to return the decoration.

Less than three weeks after his discharge Jackson again enlisted in the A.M.F. and served as Corporal J.W. Jackson VC, No. N391402 in the 2nd Australian Labour Company for a 152 days, before once again being discharged at his request on the 14th September 1942. During this time Jackson continued to sign all correspondence W Jackson VC., DCM.

His service in World War 11 entitled him to wear a further two medals, the 1939/45 War Medal and the 1939/45 Australia Service Medal, then in 1953 as the holder of the Victoria Cross he was a recipient of the 1953 Elizabeth 11 Coronation Medal.

AFTER THE WAR

Following his Discharge in 1946, Jackson returned to working as a skin buyer. While returning from a buying trip to Wollongong, at 8.30pm on the 5th October, 1946, he was driving a motor lorry through fog and light rain at Waterfall, south of Sydney, when he was involved in a four vehicle accident

While Jackson himself was fortunate to only suffer minor injuries, two people were killed in the accident. Jackson was charged with man-slaughter, driving in a dangerous manner and negligent driving.

He appeared before the Wollongong Court of Quarter Sessions charged with two counts of manslaughter on the 13th May, 1947. Evidence was given that Jackson had been driving this truck for five months and that the truck was fitted in accordance with the restricted licence held by Jackson.

It was also revealed that this was the first accident Jackson had been involved in during the thirty years he had been driving, and due to the poor weather conditions all four drivers had been driving at 25mph, (40kl).

Judge Neild, who had served in the same battalion as Jackson during the First World War and knew him by reputation, told the jury this had caused him some embarrassment during the trial. Judge Neild directed the jury to return their verdict not on anything that he had said but on the facts of the case. The jury found Jackson not guilty and he was discharged.

On moving to Melbourne in 1953 he was appointed as a Commissionaire and Inquiry attendant at the Melbourne Town Hall. In August 1953 a civic reception for the Governor-General Sir William Slim was disrupted when Slim noticed that his lift driver was wearing the ribbon of a VC, accompanying civic dignitaries were left waiting while Slim spoke at length to Jackson.

During the 1954 Royal Tour Jackson was chosen to unfurl the Royal Standard as the Queen stepped from her car on arrival at the Melbourne Town Hall. He was a guest at the State Dinner given to the Royal Couple in Sydney and again met them when they visited the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney.

Divorced in 1955, he sailed on the SS Orcades for London with 34 other Australian VC recipients in 1956 for the Victoria Cross Centenary Celebrations. While on the voyage Jackson autographed a Menu, W Jackson VC., he became very ill on the voyage and spent six weeks in Hospital in England but despite this he managed to attend a garden party at Marlborough House before being flown home.

On recovery Jackson resumed working at the Melbourne Town Hall. He died on the 5th August, 1959 in the Austin Hospital, Heidleburg, Victoria, of an Arteriosclerotic heart disease. At this time he was a member of the Carlton Sub-branch of the RSL.

William Jackson VC was given full Military Honours by Southern Command when cremated at Springvale Cemetery and his ashes were placed in the Boronia Gardens.

The Members Bar at the Merriwa RSL Club is named in his honour. And the club is currently constructing a Rest Area/Park at Gungal 23 km south of Merriwa, which will be known as ‘The William Jackson VC Memorial Park.’

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks to

Mr Ray Thorburn, Director, Australian Genealogical Education Centre. Kiama, NSW.
Mrs Robyn Howard, Hay Historical Society
Mrs Carol Douch; Merriwa Historical Society.
Ex Corporal Reg Fletcher MM.
Mr Bert Gedin, Birmingham, England.
Mr Ian Beissel, Hay,
Mr M. Kelly, Banora Point,
The National Archives of Australia, and
Bill Jackson VC’s daughter for their assistance in researching this story.