Joseph JACKSON (1)

07 May 1915

HIGH BENTHAM – News from the Front

Several letters and post cards from boys at the front state that they are fit and well. – Private Joe Jackson, son of Mr. Matthew Jackson, came from Tidwell to pay a short visit home before going out to the front, and returned on Wednesday. Corporal Turner, the only son of Mr. James Turner, of the Army Service Corps, is home on a short furlough, and Pte. R. Wearing, son of Mr. John Wearing, is enjoying an extended leave through being kicked by his horse. He is in the transport section of the 5th King’s Own. – Mr. Wilfred Wells has joined the Sportsman’s Battalion.

25 February 1916

BENTHAM SOLDIERS ON LEAVE

Four Bentham boys belonging to the Blue Cross Corps visited their home last weekend:– Corp. William Carr, Pts. Arthur Taylor, J. Crayston and John Kidd. Pte. Joseph Jackson of the 6th King’s Own, son of Mr. Matthew Jackson, arrived home on Tuesday morning for a week’s furlough. He has been in France for over seven months, and left the trenches on Sunday night. Captain Eccles is also at home on leave, and Lieut. Dow, R.A.M.C. is at home during convalescence.

03 March 1916

HIGH BENTHAM – Khaki Boys

Sergeant Robert Harrison R.A.M.C. had a weekend furlough at home this week and looks fit and well. He has volunteered for service in West Africa and he and Pte. Joe Jackson had quite a send off on Sunday night. The latter returned to his Regiment at Neuve Chapelle. Lieut. Eccles is home on short furlough this week and looks well.

21 July 1916

JACKSON – Killed in action in France, Lance-Corporal Joe Jackson, youngest son of Mr. Matthew Jackson, Bentham, aged 20 years.

21 July 1916

LOW BENTHAM DRUMMER WOUNDED

On the 13th inst., Mrs. Edward Wilcock, of Highfield Terrace, Low Bentham, received a letter from her sixth son, Drummer Reuben Wilcock, of the 7th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, which stated that he had been slightly wounded in the calf of one of his legs. At the time of writing he was in hospital and was going on very well. Further news was received from him last Saturday stating that he had returned to the trenches.

In one of his letters he referred to the death in action of one of his chums, Pte Joe Jackson, of Bentham, who, he said, was killed in an awful fight.

Before the war Drummer Wilcock was very popular at both High and Low Bentham as a footballer and cricketer. He joined his regiment on September 4th, 1914, at Lancaster, and he left England for France about a year ago. Before enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Geo. Angus & Co., Limited, of High Bentham.

Three other brothers are serving:–Gunner Ernest Wilcock in the Royal Garrison Artillery, Lance-Corpl. John Wilcock in the 2/6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and Pte. Alex. Wilcock in the R.A.M.C.

21 July 1916

BENTHAM CRICKETER KILLED AT THE FRONT

News reached Bentham on Thursday the 13th that Lance-Corporal Joe Jackson had been killed on the 5th of July in the big push in France. It was contained in a letter from one of his pals, Pte. Dick Wearing, to his mother, as follows:–

“July 10th, 1916 – Dear Mrs. Jackson, just a few lines to let you know that poor Joe has been killed. I was up at the Company this morning and his Platoon Sergeant told me about him. I was so sorry because there was only Joe and Reuben Wilcock and me from Bentham. Wilcock has been wounded too. So I thought I would just write a few lines to you and let you know. I did not know whether Reuben had written to tell you or not. I thought a lot of Joe. I was talking to him the night before he was killed and he was in the best of health and said he would come down to see me when he came out of the trenches. It is terrible where our lads are in the trenches for shellfire. I can’t tell you any more at this time. From R. Wearing, 7th King’s Own.”

Deceased was a well-known member of the Bentham Cricket team, and also a member of the St. Margaret’s football team which played in the Craven League. He was one of three pals who left their looms at the cotton mill, and on the 5th September, 1914 went to the North of Scotland, Fort George, to join the Seaforth Highlanders only to find that regiment closed to all but Scots. Not to be outdone they joined the King’s Own on their return, and one lost his life in the Dardanelles a year ago – Teddy Magoolagan; and the other, Billy Sanderson, Bentham’s bowler, was invalided home. This makes the sixth Bentham youth to lay down his life in his Country’s cause.

He was the youngest son of Mr. Matthew Jackson, a carrier for Wilcock & Co, of Bentham, and great sympathy has been expressed to his bereaved parents, for the lad was a great favourite. He was 20 on the 20th February last, and on that day got 10 days’ furlough to come home. He returned on the last Sunday in February to the trenches in France, and had quite a send-off. He had a presentiment that he would not return, for whilst at a friend’s house he said he “thought a shell would be landing some day with his number on it”.

16 November 1917

HIGHER BENTHAM – MEMORIAL SERVICE

The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the Front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinions. The Vicar (the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley) officiated, and the service was choral, commencing with the opening sentences of the burial service, chanted, as a processional with the Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violet. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem, ‘I heard a voice from Heaven’ very beautifully, and the Vicar read out the names of the fifteen heroes who have laid down their lives from the parish, as well as the three who are missing, and supposed killed, as follows:– Captain D. Morrison; Private Ed. Magoolaghan; Lance Corporal Joe Jackson; Captain S. C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother); Corporal E. Leeming; Private Tom Wilcock; Captain G. G. Eccles; Private Ezra Stevenson; Private Len Nelson; Captain Pollard; Private Percy Whitfield (N.Z.); Corporal Wm. Robinson; Corporal Harry Smith; Corporal R. Clarke (missing); Private Lancelot Dowbiggin; Private Ed. Briscoe; Private Edwin Smith.

As the names were read out many tears were shed at the memory of the loved ones ‘Gone West’. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend’, at the conclusion of which Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead March’ whilst the congregation remained standing. The recessional hymn was ‘For all the Saints’, and at the close the organist played ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ as a voluntary. The entire service was of a very impressive character.