Mexborough and Swinton Times November 30, 1918
The Victoria Cross has been posthumously awarded to Private (A/Cpl) T.N Jackson, late Coldstream Gurads of Swinton.
The following is the “London Gazette” announcement:
“On the morning of 27 February 1918, Lance Corporal Jackson was the 1st to volunteer to follow captain C.H.Frisby, Coldstream Guards, across the Canal Du Nord in his rush against an enemy machine gun post.
With two comrades he rushed the post, captured the two machine guns and so enabled the company is to advance. Later in the morning, he was the first to jump into a German trench which his platoon had to clear, and after doing further excellent work he was unfortunately killed.”
The late Corporal Thomas Norman Jackson was the elder son of Mr and Mrs Edwin Jackson, 3 Market St, Swinton and therefore of a family long resident in Swinton and widely esteemed here stop he was a native of Swinton, being born in Broomville Street, 21 years ago last February. His father was also native of Swinton, and was born in Carlyle Street. Mr Jackson worked for many years at Thrybergh Hall colliery, but more recently he has been employed as a motor driver by Messrs Ward and sons, mineral water manufacturers, who also formally employed his gallant son.
Norman Jackson was educated at the Swinton Bridge Council School, and after leaving Messrs Ward’s employment went to the Great Central locomotive Depot at Mexborough, and was engaged there as an engine cleaner when he voluntary enlisted on December 5, 1916. He joined the Coldstream Gods and was trained at Windsor, Cater ham and Tadworth. He volunteered for service abroad and went to France in October 5, 1917.
His first heavy engagement was the battle of Cambrai in November 1917, in which he saw severe service, he went through it without a scratch. Up to the moment, almost a year later, that he was shot dead, he escaped all injury. He told his parents very little about the fighting in France, but it is fairly certain that, as a soldier of the first Battalion Coldstream Guards he has this year seen very heavy fighting at close quarters.
The circumstances of a glorious death as already being related to our readers, but the sequel justifies us recapitulating them, and in adding some details. He was killed in action in September 27, during the storming of the Canal Du Nord, the formidable natural barrier which the Germans interposed between the advancing British forces and Cambrai.
The following touching and enthusiastic account of his death was received by his parents:
30/9/1918
Dear Mrs Jackson,
I am afraid this letter brings you sorrowful news. I regret to say your boy, 20846 Corporate Jackson was killed in action on the 27th of this month. You will, I know, be glad to hear that his death was instantaneous. I must tell you what he did. We had to cross a canal. The enemy were holding us up with machine guns. I called for volunteers and your boy and two others came with me and we dashed across and rushed the enemy and captured two machine guns.
Directly I called for volunteers he ran up, saying “Here we are sir,” and came over with me at once. Where Johnny was the 1st to jump into German trench and go for the enemy when, unfortunately, he was killed.
I cannot tell you how much, I admire your boy, and how much I missing. He always had a charming personality, was always keen, clean, and one of the very best. His personal bravery are shown on the 27th, was of the very highest order. Words cannot express my sympathy with you in your loss. I hope the thought that he died as a hero will be of some comfort to you in your sorrow.
I should like to tell you that I have recommended him for the highest honour possible. Assuring you of my deepest sympathy in the loss of your brave boy.
Yours very sincerely,
C.H. Frisby, Captain
Your boy was buried yesterday by our chaplain – and all the officers were there – with the two officers and all the men that fell that day. The cemetery is called Hill Cemetery, and is near a village called Haverincourt.
A few days later Mr and Mrs Jackson received the following letter from Lieutenant E.P.A.Moore:
First Battalion, Coldstream Guards
B.E.F., France
October 5, 1918
My dear Mrs Jackson
I fear I have is a very bad piece of news for you. Your son, Corporal Jackson, was in my Company has been killed in action.
I think I can realise what a blow this must be for you, is mother, since even I, while not known him many months, feel his loss greatly. In the attack on 27 September, your son was magnificent, that is all I can say. He set an example which made a difference to the whole battle. He jumped into the Canal du Nord in the face of a heavy machine-gun fire, and later was the 1st to follow his officer in an attack an enemy trench. It was while doing this that he was shot through the head. I think his platoon officer as written to you about him. Perhaps he did not tell you that Corporal Jackson has been recommended for a posthumous Victoria Cross. I pray with all my heart that he may get it. No one ever deserved it more. I wish I were able to do something to soften the blow and comfort you. If my mother can possibly be of any help to you, please write to her.
Yours, in deep sympathy and admiration of your boy.
E.P.A. Moore
Further letters were received from Lieutenant Moore’s mother and an old friend and companion, Gunner Percy Tillotson, a son of Councillor E Tillotson of Swinton.
What an unassuming and inoffensive lad he was, is well characterised by his friend Gunner Tillotson. He was too merry and high spirited and full of the “joie de vivre” to be described as either mild or quiet. He was of a robust temperament and could always “take his own corner.”
Sometimes he rather enjoyed being in that position. He was extremely fond of athletics allsorts – football, cricket, swimming, boxing and wrestling. He studied physical culture and the “noble art” very enthusiastically. He never thought of boxing in public, but enjoy nothing more in life than a bout with the gloves. He was a well-built athletic boy, proud of his strength and careful of his condition.
His letter from the Front were unfailingly cheerful. He said little or nothing about the fighting, and in none of his letters, from trench or camp, was there a word of complaint about anything he was very optimistic about the issue of the fighting. Some few weeks before his death he wrote home saying:
“The war will be over before Christmas, and we shall be across the Rhine.”
His prophecy is in the process of being triumphantly and exactly fulfilled. He never had a leave from active service. He was due home about the time that he was killed. The few days before his death he wrote to his sweetheart, a Surrey girl, saying:
“My leave is due, but I’m going to tickle old Fritz up again before I come home.”
He said home field card on the morning of the day he died. He was last home on leave in August 1917 went to France very shortly afterwards. The only letter which contains any hint of the sort of thing he has been going through this year is one that contains the passage:
“Fancy such as me standing up to Germans and baiting them without turning a hair!”
Corporal Jackson and Sergeant L.Calvert, of Conisborough, gained their laurels on the same day, in the same district, and almost certainly in the same action Sergeant Calvert won the Victoria Cross at Haverincourt on September 27.
Copper Jackson was buried near Haverincourt.
From C.W.G.C.:
Lance Corporal
JACKSON, THOMAS NORMAN
Service Number 20810
Died 27/09/1918
Aged 21
1st Bn.
Coldstream Guards
V C
Son of Thomas Edwin and Emma Jackson, of 3, Market St., Swinton, Rotherham.
SANDERS KEEP MILITARY CEMETERY, GRAINCOURT-LES-HAVRINCOURT II. D. 4