4462092 Private John Jackson DLI 9th Battalion

Hi all

Hope this is the right place, found my partners relative earlier who is the above mentioned Soldier

Private John Jackson
4462092
Durham Light Infantry 9th Battalion

He was KIA 19th June 1944 and is buried in Bayeaux Cemetary and thanks to this site, I have managed to find a picture of his Headstone

Also managed to find a picture of him in his home town roll of honour

However I have done searches and can only seem to find information on 14th June, but nothing for the 19th June when he was killed

The searches I have done seem to skip the last weeks of June and move into July

Wondering if anyone could possibly shed any further light on his movements etc

Thanks In Advance

Steve

 

Hello Steve,

There are 7 deaths reported for that date in the Roll of Honour in ‘The Gateshead Gurkhas’ (Moses), but no mention of any battle incident therein.

It becomes even stranger when one of the deaths was that of an officer, Lt D Boulton, who had been with the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry for some time and is reported elsewhere in this regimental history as having been wounded in the fierce fight at Primosole Bridge (Sicily). An officer’s death or wounding usually has some sort of mention.

Nothing appears by way of explanation for the other 5 soldiers who died that day either.

Best,

Steve.

 

Hi Steve

Many Thanks for this info

It would appear (as we found a newspaper cutting) that says the following

Mr & Mrs Jackson of 15 Banner Street have received official notification that their son, Pte John Jackson of the DLI has been killed in action in Normandy on the 19th of June
He had served in the desert campaigns, was wounded in the Sicily landings, and served throughout in the famous 50th Division
Educated at Sacred Heart School he was one of 5 brothers serving in the army. 4 having served in the Middle East, all being known for their parochial activities in connection with Sacred Heart Chruch
He workd at Forsters Booth Works before being called up four years ago

So he must have been with the 9th for some time to have fought in Sicily, cannot find any records for him other than the War Graves one

I know his 4 brothers names, but cannot find any military service for any of them

I went to the local Cemetary today to look for a grave for a different family member, and they have his death on a headstone there along with other family members

His Brothers were
Richard (born 1902)
Thomas (born 1903 or 1908)
Jesse John (born 1906)
Josiah (born 1909)
Joseph (born 19010)

 

I’m wondering if he died of wounds received in the fighting at Lingevres on the 14 June 1944, Steve.

He and two others that died on the 19 June 1944 are buried at Bayeaux, whereas 3 of the others are buried at CWGC sites further forward (and one is in Berlin). All of the 9th Bn men that died in the fighting at Lingevres on the 14 June 1944 are buried at Bayeaux.

I wonder if Jim (ex-forum member) has details? Mr Jinks may be able to make contact with him, as this is definitely Jim’s area of expertise?!?

If we can find out if he was reported wounded at an earlier date and then died of wounds, we may be able to work out the circumstances. Such records are kept at the National Archive and some members (I believe including Mr Jinks) has access to some of these...

Best,

Steve.

 

I took this photo for Verrieres DLI thread back in June 2011. Was it that long ago.

 

Hi Owen

I have a paid account on findmypast h is listed as KIA 19th June 1944, which confirms the newspaper cutting, the St Helens Roll of Honour and his memorial headstone in his home town

The newspaper does state he was wounded in Sicily though which I assume is July 1943 on the Sicily Landings

 

Listed as Killed in Action buried at Lingevres with 269318 Lieut David Boulton and 304906 2 /Lieut Black (ox and Bucks attached to 9DLI) killed during the taking of Tilly sur Seulles which fell on the 19th June 1944.
Other 9 DLI casualties;-
4037269 Ben Grocutt DoW 19 June 1944 (these at Bayeux)
3316429 Jack Bell Died as a PoW in Berlin captured in the desert.
6300317 L/Cpl Gant and 5435833 Sgt Selly both died of Wounds buried at Jerusalem prior to Tilly
The month of June is missing from the diary but I think Korps Steiner has a copy?

Kyle

 

Yes, I found this yesterday and thank you ever so much for this as there isnt one on the CWGC site (but he is listed)

Again many thanks

At the moment, National Archives are currently free whilst they are closed (fair usage applies) as I managed to get another family member Josiah Jackson (different one to above) Medal Card

I found (from here) an excerpt of the 9th diary but it stops at 16th June

 

I believe the 9th DLI War Diaries for the period you are looking for are missing. I've previously looked on behalf of a relative who had an uncle who was with the 9th DLI in Normandy and DOW at the end of June 1944. So it is difficlut to be precise for the actions in the period you are interested in for 9th DLI. Just do the best you can piecing together what you can.

 

I have bought the Harry Moses Gurkha book, and it is signed which is cool, and John's name is in the back of the book along with those others who died, and it also came with a letter that must have been the previous owner of the book , there was also a bookmark in , and its possible that the previous owner didnt get to finish reading

Having just searched it would appear Stan Jolley did indeed pass away in 2006 so never got to fiinish the book

 

And Stan's bookmark

Passed away aged 60, I wonder if he had a relative that was in the 9th ?

 

If you look at Pages 82 and 386 of The Gateshead Gurkhas (Moses) you will see that a Captain M Jolley is mentioned and was awarded the MC at Arras 1917.

Maybe a relative?!?

Note that: his bookmark is placed in the Arras 1917 section of the book.

Best,

Steve.

 

Hi Steve ,

I do in fact have a Full copy of the 9 DLI War Diary and as a researcher at the DLI Archive i am working on a project on the DLI Casualties in Normandy . Let me check the diary and my records and i'll come back to you asap .

Regards

Paul

 

Hello again Steve ,

The entry from the WD is fairly brief but that is common for 9 DLI during this period.

On the 19th June they were in position south of the Tilly -Lingevres road having moved into this location from St Bizire on the 18th.

0900-1200 Other units passing through the Bn area

15.25 Fairly quiet until 15.25 when C Company was attacked by enemy Infantry but held their own and the enemy withdrew .

That's it from the 19th so he could have been killed in the C Company position during the Battle with enemy infantry .

Regards

Paul