Harold Jackson (soldier)

Harold Jackson VC (2 June 1892 - 24 August 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 25 years old, and a sergeant in the 7th (S) Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 22 March, 1918 at Hermies, France, Sergeant Jackson volunteered and went through the hostile barrage and brought back valuable information regarding the enemy's movements. Later when the enemy had established themselves in the English line, the sergeant single-handedly bombed them out into the open. Again single-handed he stalked an enemy machine-gun, threw Mills bombs at the detachments and put the gun out of action. On a subsequent occasion when all his officers had become casualties he led his company to the attack, withdrawing them successfully when ordered to do so. He repeatedly went out under fire and carried in wounded.

He was killed in action, Flers, France, on 24 August, 1918.

The medal

Jackson's medal is privately held.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9481050 Harold Jackson on Find-A-Grave]