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Albert Stephenson Jackson (1884-)


Merrington born son of a publican served with AIF wounded at Gallipoli


Albert Stephenson Jackson from Spennymoor enlisted in the Australian Army (AIF) early in 1915. Wounded at Gallipoli, he was returned to Western Australia (WA) just six months later and the following year was discharged as medically unfit for further military service.

Albert was born in the village of Merrington near Spennymoor where his parents, Jonathan, a licensed victualler from Crook and Isabella, the daughter of a publican from Seaton Delaval, ran the local pub, the “Eden Arms”. Albert was their oldest child, soon to be followed by another two girls and two boys.

As a teenager, Albert was apprenticed for five years as an engineer in the company of Clarke Chapman, a small boiler-making firm on the south bank of the Tyne. Unable to travel home each day, he became a lodger with the Rutledge family in Brinkburn Avenue, Gateshead.

By the time of the 1911 census, Albert’s mother, Isabella, had died and Albert had had to return home to help his father run his new inn, the “Crown and Anchor” in South Church, near Bishop Auckland. He is recorded as married on the census, but his wife, Mary Matilda, was not staying with him in the pub. Albert had also become a freemason by this date, a member of the Wear Valley Lodge.

Four years later, Albert and Mary had emigrated to Western Australia and Albert was working as an electrical engineer in Armadale, a suburb of Perth. Albert was 5′ 10″ tall, weighed 12 stone and had blue eyes and brown hair.

On 6 March 1915, Albert enlisted as a private in the 13th Battalion (Infantry) of the Australian Army (AIF) in Perth. After just a month of basic training, he found himself bound for Egypt, with other reinforcements, to join their units attempting to establish a beach head at Anzac Cove, in Gallipoli.

The Anzac troops were almost constantly bombarded by the Turkish Army dug in in the hills above the Cove, and on 7 August, a shell exploded near Albert, injuring his right arm and shoulder. He was taken out to the hospital ships moored in the bay and five days later arrived at the First Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis, just outside Cairo. His condition was stabilised and he was shipped back to Australia.

Albert was discharged from the army on medical grounds on 15 November 1916, and returned to Perth to work in the marine engineering industry.

By 1925, Albert had left engineering behind and had his own business as a fruit-grower.

Civil Parish: Merrington

Birth date: 1884

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Eden Arms, Merrington, Spennymoor (civil & ecclesiastical parish of Merrington 1891 census)
134 Brinkburn Avenue, Gateshead (ecclesiastical parish of Gateshead Christ Church lodging with Rutledge family 1901 census)
Crown & Anchor, South Church, Bishop Auckland (1911 census)
Armdale, Perth, Western Australia (1915 attestation papers)
Albany Road, Kelmscott, Perth, WA (1925-31 Australian electoral rolls)

Employment: Apprentice engineer with Clarke Chapman of Gateshead, electrical & marine engineer, fruit grower

Family: Parents: Jonathan Jackson (b 1855), Isabella Jackson (nee Stephenson) (b 1864)
Siblings: John Jackson (b 1887), Emily Jackson (b 1888), Nelly Jackson (b 1895), William Jackson (b1896)
Wife: Mary Matilda Jackson

Military service:

Service Number 1963
Private
13th (Infantry) Battalion, Australian Army.
Enlisted 06-Mar-1915 in Perth, WA, wounded in action at Gallipoli 04-Aug-1915, discharged as medically unfit 15-Nov-1916

Medal(s): 1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Kelloe Visitor, Trimdon Station

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