Jackson, William John

No.1952 – Private William John Jackson – 28^th Battalion AIF

William John Jackson was born in Bunbury Western Australia in 1884 to Matthew and Louisa White who was of aboriginal heritage. Bill was initially raised by his mother though in 1891 at the age of seven William was admitted to the Subiaco Boys Orphanage along with his younger brother. Nine months later they were sent to New Norcia. He appears to have been at New Norcia for two years before reuniting with his mother and they lived at the Aboriginal Camp in Bayswater.

He appears to have then returned to New Norcia to work as a labourer. He spent a few years in New Norcia where he met his future wife. In 1906 he married Matilda Newman at Victoria Plains and they soon moved to East Fremantle. They would go on to have four children. Mary (1907), Matilda (1909), Louise (1912) and Walter (1914).

During this time William was employed at Limestone House Fremantle.

On the 24^th June 1915 William went to the Perth Drill Hall to enlist in the AIF. He was accepted as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 11 ¾ inches tall; weight of 173 lbs; chest measurement of 37-41 inches; dark complexion; grey eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.

After an initial period in a training depot, William was assigned to the 3^rd Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA until they embarked from Fremantle on the 2^nd September 1915 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Anchises”. The journey to Egypt took around 4 weeks and after arriving at Suez the men were disembarked and sent on to Alexandria. Once in Alexandria they boarded a troopship which took them on to Gallipoli, with William being taken on strength of the 28^th Battalion on the 12^th October 1915. He served with the 28^th Battalion for the remainder of the Gallipoli campaign and when Gallipoli was evacuated in late December 1915, he returned to Egypt with his unit.

William spent the first two and a half months of 1916 in the Egyptian desert. Most of the time here was taken up with training and holding portions of the Suez Canal defence line. On the 16^th March 1916 the 28^th boarded a troopship in Alexandria which took them to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21^st March 1916. After their arrival the men were disembarked and put on to trains which took them to the north of France. They had their first taste of life on the Western Front in the vicinity of Fleurbaix. On the 17^th April 1916 William got into trouble for neglecting to comply with an order and as a punishment was given 168 hours of Field Punishment No.2.

In amongst the training and serving in the front line, William had time to send a few postcards back home

William wrote a postcard back home to the young Walter;

France 18-5-16; From Dad to Walter with love and kisses and the hope to see you all soon. I remain your far away dad, W Jackson, good night.

The same day he sent a postcard to his mother;

France 18-5-16; From your loving son with love and kisses and hope to see you all soon. I remain your far off son, William Jackson

The 28^th Battalion remained in the Fleurbaix sector till June 1916 after which they proceeded to the Somme battlefield.

The 1^st Australian Division captured Pozieres on the 23^rd July 1916. A few days later they were relieved by the 2^nd Division who attempted to further the gains already made. On July 29^th the 28^th Battalion attacked the German positions and were repelled with heavy casualties due to the heavy German machine gun fire and barbed wire entanglements. On August 4^th they took part in another assault which was more successful and resulted in the capture of the windmill position. William came through these two actions unscathed.

After seeing further action at Mouquet Farm in late August 1916 the 28^th Battalion was withdrawn to Belgium for a well-deserved rest. They remained in Belgium through September and into October 1916 when they were ordered to return to the Somme battlefield. This was now a muddy shell strewn area to which the 28^th Battalion would be spending the French winter of 1916/17. It was ludicrous to order attacks in such conditions and yet the 28^th Battalion as part of the 7^th Brigade were tasked with the capture of the German positions opposite. The 28^th along with the 27^th Battalion succeeded in entering the German trenches but due to the conditions they could not be properly reinforced and so the Germans retook the trenches.

The 28^th Battalion lost heavily in this assault and four days later William reported sick and was sent to the 7^th Field Ambulance suffering from trench feet. He returned to the 28^th Battalion on the 15^th November 1916. On this day the 28^th Battalion returned to the line and during the 15/16^th November the Germans launched an attack on the neighbouring British unit. The 28^th Battalion set up a defence and attempted to counter attack and retake the German positions. During the action twelve men of the 28^th, including William were killed, while others were taken prisoner of war. Of the twelve men killed only three have a known grave. William and the others are commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

His wife Matilda, living at Hope Street East Fremantle, would receive his personal effects and war medals.

In the hope that his body may be found Matilda wrote to the Army authorities regarding an epitaph for his grave

I am sending the inscription what I would like to have. “In loving memory of my dear husband and father, William John Jackson killed in action between 16 to 18 November 1916, Loved in life, Honoured in Death, Cherished in Memory”