9361 PTE W.J.JACKSON 2/R.SC.FUS.
Walter John Jackson
Born 1888
Son of William T.Jackson of 39 Abbey Road, Belvedere, Kent
To France 6/10/14 with 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers
Pte Jackson was badly wounded during early engagements near Ypres & was evacuated to Blighty
DOW Home 27/10/14
Buried in Cork Military Cemetery Park, Ireland
Note: The 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers first arrived at Ypres 14/10/14 & just 4 days later was in a battle for its very existence when they engaged the enemy at Terhand, east of Becelaere & suffered their first fatal casualties on 18/10/14. Major Ian Forbes of the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers wrote 'they were now constantly under fire& it was difficult to tell the difference between night & day. The enemy were persistent in their attacks and came on time after time... rows and rows of canon fodder.'A ditch roughly 6 feet deep, 10 feet across & 100 yards long in front of the 2nd Battalion's line became filled with German dead. They withdrew during the evening of 19/10/14 & dug in on line between Reutel and Polderhoek, where they held the line under constant bombardment & attack. The 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers War Diary records that 'D' Company was enfiladed by machine-gun fire on 21/10/14 & the enemy broke through between them & the 2nd Yorkshire Regt, forcing a withdrawal. 'A' Company led counter-attack on 22/10/14 but although the houses in Polderhoek were cleared, they were unable to regain the lost ground. Major Forbes recalls that for days he could see the bodies of his men lying in front of the trenches. Their War Diary then records that the enemy attacked 'C' Company's position at 5.30am on 24/10/14 & although some 40 German prisoners were taken, the company was eventually forced to retire, having been reduced to a strength of 2 officers & 75 men.
During this period 18-27th October 1914 the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers suffered 115 fatal casualties, including Pte Jackson
With copy of his Medal Index Card, SDGW & CWGC details, plus supporting research documentation
Condition: Verdigris stain on ring & tip of crown, otherwise GVF
