JACKSON, Eric Laurence
| Service Number: | 34625 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 September 1916, Brisbane, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Field Artillery Brigades |
| Born: | Brisbane, Qld., 4 September 1897 |
| Home Town: | West End, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Articled Law Clerk |
| Died: | Charleville Hospital, Charleville, Qld., 19 July 1938, aged 40 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Charleville General Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: | Holland Park Mount Gravatt Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 34625, Field Artillery Brigades, Brisbane, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 34625, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Jun 1917: | Embarked Gunner, 34625, Field Artillery Brigades, HMAT Suevic, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Lang
Son of Mrs Mary Agnew and Samuel Thomas Jackson, 'Ronaldene', Bank Street, West End, South Brisbane, Queensland
Eric Jackson was the youngest of three brothers and the last to enlist. The connection of the family to the Mount Gravatt District is rather tenuous. There is no reference to Mount Gravatt in either Eric’s or brother Wilfrid’s file. Both record that they were simply born in Brisbane. The eldest brother, Rupert’s attestation papers records that he was born at Mount Gravatt. It is reasonable to assume that the family lived at Mount Gravatt when the boys were younger but had moved to West End by the time the first of them enlisted. All three brothers listed their mother; Marie Agnew Jackson as next of kin. Eric’s application to enlist is signed only by his mother with a note that his father had been absent (not deceased) since 1902.
Eric enlisted soon after his 19th birthday at Adelaide Street on 4th September 1916. He gave his address at the time as “Ronaldens” Bank Street, West End. Eric stated his occupation as articled clerk.
Eric was originally drafted into the 42nd Battalion as a reinforcement and was soon promoted to Lance Corporal. On the 17th December 1916 he was transferred into the 41st Battalion in Melbourne but one month later he found himself in the Field Artillery as a gunner. Eric embarked for overseas as an Artillery Reinforcement on the “Suevic” from Melbourne on 21st June 1917.
Upon arriving in Liverpool on 26th August Eric was posted to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade in October. The 12th FAB was at that time in Flanders supporting the advances along the Menin Road towards Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Passchendaele. The brigade remained in Flanders during the winter, engaging in harassing fire of enemy troops moving up to relieve the front line.
The artillery moved back to the Somme during the summer of 1918 to support the Australian Corps’ advances east towards the Hindenburg Line and beyond. During an action near Peronne, Eric was gassed and spent some time in hospital. It is likely that during 1918, Eric had been identified as a likely prospect for administrative and tactical work. As a consequence, he probably spent less time in the battery lines and more time at Brigade HQ.
On 9th October Eric was transferred to Monash’s HQ, and remained there through the armistice and the Corps HQ move back to England. On 22nd January 1919, Eric was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for service to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade during 1918. Work for Corps HQ staff continued throughout 1919 in handling the return of almost 300,000 Australian personnel who were currently overseas.
On 29th March 1919 Eric was granted three months leave on full pay to work at the offices of Denners, Lamb and Pearce Solicitors of Chancery Lane, London. He was obviously planning for life after discharge, picking up his articled clerkship. Upon returning to the Army in the middle of 1919, Eric had ten days leave before boarding the “Ulysses” for the voyage home; and was finally discharged from the military in January 1920.
The Queensland Law Society lists Eric Jackson as being admitted to the Supreme Court on 4th October 1921, presumably as a solicitor. It would appear that Eric moved to the Maranoa district where he is listed on the electoral roll until 1938. The Brisbane Courier carried a family notice in July 1938 to the effect that Eric Lawrence Jackson had died at the Charleville Hospital. The notice identified him as the youngest son of Mary Agnew Jackson (who was presumably still alive) and Mr W.T. Jackson deceased.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
OBITUARY.
ERIC L. JACKSON.
It was with deep regret that the many friends learned of the death of Mr. Eric Lawrence Jackson, solicitor, who passed away suddenly at the Charleville Hospital on Tuesday morning last. The late Mr. Jackson, who was 40 years of age, was admitted to practice as a solicitor in 1921 and after several years in Winton came to Charleville, where he had remained up o the time of his death. He was secretary of the Charleville branch of the Masonic Lodge for the past two years and was also District Assistant Superintendent of Works of the Lodge. He held the position of treasurer of the Warrego Club up to 30th June last, when he resigned.