Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: George Canning Jackson
Service Number: 1032
Place of Birth: Prospect
Date of Birth: 1 July 1888
Place of Enlistment: Oaklands
Date of Enlistment: 17 December 1914
Age at Enlistment: 25 years 5 months
Marital status: Single
Next of Kin: Father – Rev. Richard Jackson/ Methodist Manse Two Wells
Occupation: Bookseller
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Gunner 13th Field Artillery Brigade

Biographical details:
George Canning was the son of Richard Jackson and Sarah Ann Canning. George left Australia with his unit on board HMAT A19 Afric on 26 May 1915 and after a short period at Malta, proceeded to Gallipoli as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and fought at Walker’s Ridge and the Nek. He sustained a hand injury on 29 August and was admitted to the Military Hospital at New End, Hampstead on 5 September. The injury continued to trouble George and led to the amputation of a finger at the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, Egypt on 22 April 1916. George was posted to the 8th Light Horse on 3 May 1916,then transferred to the Field Artillery Brigade on 14 May. While fighting in France he was granted leave from 1 July to 11 July 1917. He was granted furlough from 21 March to 11 April 1918.
Military authorities congratulated George for jumping fully-clothed into a canal to rescue two men who had got into difficulty swimming on 11June 1918. He was posted to Hurdcott Camp on 3 January 1919. George was absent without leave on 28 January and had to forfeit 10 days’ pay on 29 January. A bout of tonsillitis resulted in George being admitted to No.2 Group Hospital in England for 2 days on 22 February.
George returned to Australia on board the Ascanius on 23 September and was discharged on 6 January 1920. From 1926 he resided in Western Australia.(1).
Other Anecdotal Information:
He was selected as a delegate by the Glossop Agricultural Bureau to attend a fruitgrower’s conference in August 1924 and was elected as their secretary in 1925. George used his position to urge cooperation with the Moorook Agricultural Bureau for the advancement of the fruit growing industry. He is memorialized on the World War One Honour Roll at the Grand Masonic Lodge in Adelaide (2) and the Renmark Honour Roll(3).
Fruit Block Details:
George occupied Block 688, consisting of 14.25 irrigable and 0.5 acres. He cultivated 5.1 acres of sultanas, 1.2 acres of currants, 4.3 acres of gordos,1.1 acres of oranges and had 2.55 acres vacant(4)
References:
1.National Australian Archives: B2455; Jackson G C; Barcode 7367074.
2.Trove/ The Murray Pioneer & The Australian River Record 29 August 1924 & 23 October 1925.
3.L.Andison Berri: the Hub of the Upper Murray Pg 138.
4. Barmera Berri Council, Berri Barmera & Districts Local Heritage Collection.