3247 PTE. A. JACKSON. L.N.LAN.R.

Andrew Jackson was born in Bolton in 1895 and was the son of Mary Jackson of 51 Green Street.

He had been living at 51 Green Street since at least 1911 where he was recorded on the census that year with his widowed mother and siblings James (b.1893), Mary E (b.1898), Bertha (b.1902) and Florence (b.1906.) Andrew’s occupation was given as flyer maker.

Shortly after war broke out he enlisted in the Army at Bolton, 26th August 1914, and joined the 1st Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment with the number 3247. He was 17 years 134 days old and had in the intervening years been an apprentice moulder at Messrs. Dobson and Barlow’s works. At his medical examination on enlistment he was described as being 5′ 4 5/8″ tall and weighing 104 lbs with blue eyes and brown hair;  the surgeon recorded Andrew also had a scar on his right arm which could be used to identify him should the worst happen. He was then posted down to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Felixstowe to train for service overseas.

Pte Jackson sailed out to France to join the 1st Battalion in the field on 4th January 1915 but was almost immediately send back to England on the S.S. Oxfordshire where he arrived less than 10 days later. The reason for this is unknown, it is doubtful he would have had time to join the lads at the front and January 1915 wasn’t recorded as his qualifying date on his Medal Index Card.

In May 1915, while still serving in the Loyal North Lancs, he attempted to “fraudulently enlist“ again in the Royal Field Artillery (the Bolton Artillery) but was quickly discovered. He was then posted into the 6th (Service) Battalion L.N.L. and sailed for Gallipoli on 25th July 1915.

Just 37 days later, 30th August 1915, Andrew Jackson was reported to have been killed in action. The Battalion had been in the vicinity of KAZLAR CHAIR since the day before (29th) and were in the support trenches with some men of the 6th South Lancs battalion as the two had formed a composite battalion. On the 30th August one company, which presumably included Pte Jackson, were sent out to support the 3rd Mounted Brigade in the firing line where they remained until 4 a.m. on 31st. There is only one 6th Bn. casualty recorded as being killed on 30th August, Private Andrew Jackson who was buried at Green Hill Cemetery.

The Bolton Journal and Guardian reported his death on 24th September 1915.

His Life for His Country

Many Boltonians have sacrificed their lives while fighting with the 6th L.N.L. Regiment at the Dardanelles, and the latest who has fallen in action is Pte. Andrew Jackson, whose mother lives at 51, Green-st. The gallant soldier, who was killed on August 30th, was only 20 years of age. Prior to the war he was a moulder at Messrs. Dobson and Barlow’s Works. Four days before he met his heroic death he wrote home:- “I hope you are keeping your heart up, for I think it won’t be long before this war is over. It is just a year ago since I ‘listed.”

The following effects were sent home to his mother;

• 1 Identity disc
• 1 Letter
• 1 Christmas card

His mother remarried in 1917 to Charles Eccles and would later receive her late son’s 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal in addition to a memorial plaque and scroll bearing his name and in recognition of his sacrifice.

Rank: Private
Service No: 3247
Date of Death: 30/08/1915
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 6th Bn.
Cemetery: GREEN HILL CEMETERY

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Paul McCormick

Paul McCormick is the creator and administrator for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment website. Since 2010 he has been researching the soldiers that served during the First World War and sharing their stories on his website. You can contact Paul through the website 'Contact Me' page or on Twitter and Facebook.

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