Virtual
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Australia

James ‘Jim’ Jackson was well known as a footballer in the Cessnock region, having represented the Maitland first grade team. He was known as ‘Plug’ Jackson to his family and friends. He was the son of Edward and Jane Jackson of Cessnock, New South Wales.

His younger brother, 3807 Pte. Frank Jackson 13th Battalion AIF, was awarded a Military Medal for bravery at Stormy Trench during 1917.

Maitland Weekly Mercury 2 September 1916. A CESSNOCK SOLDIER'S LETTER.

Writing to his parents at Cessnock from Salisbury Plains, Private James (Plug) Jackson gives details of the sea trip on the same lines as those written by several others of the same battalion. The writer of the letter is well known in football and other sporting circles. He played at one time with the Maitland senior Rugby team. He has a brother Frank in the trenches. Speaking of his English experiences he says: — ''The scenery Plymouth to Amesbury, is something lovely. I am a great barracker for Australia, but it beats Australia easily. Everything is fresh and green. We saw women working in the fields. At 10 o'clock it was still daylight; it is never what you would call dark here. Around about the camp is like a pig-stye. We have only seen the sun one day, that was Sunday. It has been raining all the other days. When we go out round about the camp the soles of our boots get a coat of clay about 4 inches thick. Things are twice as dear here as in Australia, and they are not as good. One thing is that eggs are cheap. I think the hens lay twice a day; the days are so long. We pay 2d for boiled eggs. Beer is from 3d to 5d a pint. Everybody pays for their own, and they won't take Australian money; they must smell the gum leaves. They are going to make soldiers of us here; there is no fooling about it. We are starting at the bottom of the ladder, and we get the same drill as we got the first day we went into Maitland. We have only been here four days and it has made a great difference in us. We are twice as good as we were in Maitland. If you don't do as you are told you get pack drill — 2 hours marching with a 20lbs pack on. We are only 16 hours ride from the trenches.

I don't think we will be going yet awhile. By the way they are talking the war will be over before long. A bell in London has fallen, they say, four different times when war was on and each time the war ended four months after it fell. It is said that the bell fell again 2 months ago. I think the war will last till Christmas. I will be home for Christmas dinner.”

James arrived in France in late November 1916, and served right through the war. He was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded a Belgian Croix de Guerre, as well as promoted to from Private to Second Lieutenant.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 14 June 1919.

"Lieutenant James Jackson, Croix du Guerre, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Jackson, returned home last evening from the front, after an absence of over three years on active service. Lieutenant Jackson, who left with the original 34th Battalion, gained his commission on the field, and was awarded the French decoration for bravery. Owing to the fact that no trains were running, Lieutenant Jackson was motored home from Maitland. A large gathering of friends and relatives assembled at the residence of his parents, where he was tendered a dinner in honour of his return. Mr. J. B. Brown presided, and a toast list, including that of "The Guest," was honoured. Mr. W. D. Hannell proposed the principal toast, and assured the guest how glad his many friends were to see him safely home. He heartily congratulated him on his merit in gaining commissioned rank, and a decoration. Unlike in times gone by, commissions could not be bought, and wore conferred only on those who proved their worth in actual warfare. He was sure his parents were more than overjoyed to have their second soldier son safely home."