S.S. Zeeland
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas, born at Lanchester, June 28th 1879, one of 14 children all of whom survived, was the youngest of 5 sons and had 4 elder and 5 younger sisters. His father George Jackson of Mickley, born 1844 married in the district of Hexham in 1868, Isabella Swinburne born 1849 at Hedley. George had completed his apprenticeship under his father’s tuition and newly married, was living alongside his parents and brother Ralph, all three working as blacksmiths. By 1891 George and his family had transferred to Front Street, Lanchester where he had been joined by son George Jnr working for their own account as blacksmiths. By the age of 21, Thomas had already left home and he emigrated to Canada in 1905. He met English immigrant Annie Burdett Coutts born 1886 at Jarrow, who had arrived in Canada in 1911. They were married July 2nd 1912 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The couple moved to 1605 Retallack Street, Regina Park, Saskatchewan where Thomas was employed as a warehouseman. In 1913 they were joined by her parents William Hodgson and Elizabeth Coutts nee Rankin of Hedworth. They moved in with their daughter and son-in-law at Retallack Street. William (66) was employed as a janitor.
When Britain declared war on Germany, August 4th 1914, she did so without consulting her dominions, however, the response of the Empire saved Britain in the opening months and sustained her right through the terrible conflict. Thomas Jackson answered the call. Described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He enlisted for the duration and was examined at Winnipeg, Manitoba, April 23rd 1915, found to be fit and assigned as Private 74315 to “A” Coy, 28th Battalion, 4th Canadian Infantry. He departed from Canada aboard the S.S. Northland, May 29th 1915, the ship having been renamed as such to sound less German, although her original name S.S. Zeeland was in fact Dutch. Upon their arrival in England the Canadian soldiers were formed into the 2nd Canadian Division. His wife left Canada too and went to live with her father-in-law at Front Street, Lanchester. Private Jackson only spent a short time in England training at Shorncliffe Army Camp, near Cherliton, Kent, before departing to France as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, September 17th 1915, attached to the 28th Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, landing at Boulogne September 19th. Annie Burdett Jackson returned to Canada August 26th 1916 whilst her husband was on active service.
The 2nd Canadian Division participated during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. However April 15th 1916 Private Jackson was transferred to the sub-staff at the 6th Brigade H.Q. By October 11th he was transferred as batman and served Major Duncan Ebert Macintyre of Calgary, formally a Lieutenant with the 60th Regiment, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, now 28th Battalion, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
He was reported as missing May 14th 1917 and subsequently by June 10th reported as absent without leave based upon a letter sent by Major D. E. Macintyre which stated, “On the 15th May I sent for my servant, No.74315 Private Thomas Jackson, 28th Battalion, but he could not be found in camp. On making enquiries it was found that Private Jackson had left camp on the evening of 14th May, saying he was going for a walk, since when he has not been seen by anyone connected with the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Enquiries were at once made and every effort made to locate the missing man without success. The matter was reported to the A.P.M. 2nd Canadian Division on the 15th May. On the day following Private Jackson's disappearance, my revolver, (a Colt 45 automatic) could not be found, and it is thought that he may have taken this with him. As nearly a month has now passed, I think it desirable that Private Jackson be reported as absent.” signed D. E. Macintyre Major, Brigade Major 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade 10th June 1917.
A grim discovery was made by two French soldiers June 10th 1917 and communicated to Lance Corporal F. Foley of the M.M. Police by Chaplain Bradley. In a letter to the A.P.M. 17th Corps he reported the events of the day as follows including any grammatical errors, “Sir, At about 2 pm on the 10th inst I was on duty on the Arras St. Pol Road near the 17th Corps Troop Supply Column when I was informed by Chaplain Bradley of that mentioned Column that two French soldiers had just reported to him that there was a soldier laying dead in a field, and that he had sent Leut Cohan, back to the field with them. He pointed Leut Cohen and the two men out to me going along the Tilloy Road. I overtook them and went along with them to the field which is on the right hand side of the road, which branches off the Tilloy Road to Hermaville, where one of the French soldiers pointed to the dead body of a soldier. I asked Leut Cohen to get a Medical Officer to have a look at the body which was laying on its back under an hedge, also an ambulance for to remove the body whilst I stopped with the body. The ambulance arrived at about 3.45 pm but there was no medical officer with it, as the Driver stated he had orders to remove the body I assisted him to remove the body from under the hedge, I then saw a revolver laying on the ground near the right hand of the body. I then examined and searched the body with the assistance of Driver No.34390 F. Bisbeech 1st South African Field Ambulance, 9th Division, I found a hole in the head which was decaying, as the body appeared to have been dead for about a month, on searching the clothing I found identification disc with Pte No. 74315 T. Jackson 28th Inf Batt 2nd Canadian Division, also an envelope with No 74315 Pte T Jackson 4th Brigade H2 Staff 2nd Canadian Division with the post stamp dated 9th of April 1917, the other articles I found in the clothing are 1 jack knife, 1 identity disc, 1 note book, 1 box of matches, 1 Canadian Corp Badge, 3 francs 65 cents in French money, also 1 leather wallet herewith attached receipt for same from 42nd C.C.S.” signed F Foley M. M. Police, Aubigny 10th June 1917.
The statement of the Medical Officer at Rouen after examination of body, No.74315 Pte. T. Jackson, 4th Can. Inf. Brig. is as follows, “I examined the body of the above named man on the 10th June 1917 at No.42 Casualty Clearing Station. Decomposition was far advanced owing to the death having occurred some considerable time before. Digits were nibbled by rats. There was a bullet wound in the head entrance to the right temporal region, small and round. Exit was of explosive type and situated in the left partial region. The direction of the wound was such as to have been caused by self-inflicted wound from Revolver bullet, the weapon being held in the right hand and pointed upwards. It was impossible to identify charring of skin owing to mortification referred to above. Owing to absence of other injuries I assumed that this wound was the cause of death. E. W. Kirk Captain R.A.M.C. TC. 26th June 1917.”
A Court of Enquiry was dispensed with in accordance with G.R.O. 755 in the case of Private Jackson as it was possible to secure documentary evidence from the medical officer who examined the deceased. An "accidental or self-inflicted injuries" report was filed. It was concluded that Private 74315 Thomas Jackson had absented himself on the night of 14th May 1917 and was found dead with a bullet through the right temple 10-6-1917 by M.P., killed - presumed self-inflicted. The remains of Private Jackson Canadian Infantry Brigade were interred at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension. The cemetery was used by the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station from March 1916 to the Armistice. The CWGC has adopted June 10th 1917 as the official date of Private Jackson’s death. He was 37 years of age.
His widow of 1576 Retallack Street, Regina Park, Saskatchewan received all monies owed to him by the Canadian Army, a pension of 100 Canadian Dollars as of November 1st 1917, frequency unspecified, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and the personal possessions found on his body. As per his will signed September 24th 1915, she was also entitled to the whole of his property and effects. She commissioned at a cost of 9 shillings 11 pence an additional inscription to be added to his headstone, it reads, “The Lord Gave And The Lord Hath Taken Away.”
Annie Burnett Jackson nee Coutts never remarried. She died at Regina Park Saskatchewan in 1945, her death was preceded by that of her parents Elizabeth Coutts nee Rankin, October 16th 1923 and William Hodgson Coutts, February 3rd 1931. All three are buried at Regina Cemetery, Regina Park, Saskatchewan, Canada.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Jackson is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01
