Private Thomas Jackson
17412 8th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 15th July 1916, aged 32
Lived at 128 Sandygate
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
St Peters Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 2nd August 1916

Thomas Jackson was born in Burnley He was a widower with one son. He enlisted at Burnley in November 1914 and served as Private 17412 in the 8th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment.

The Burnley Express of August 16th 1916 reported that he lived at 28 Sandygate Burnley and as his wife had died in April 1916 he left an orphan son Wilfred aged 4. He came over from the front for the funeral but was 2 days late. His little son is living with Mrs Reed whom his father appointed to be his guardian. The little boy had been going to school for a year. Thomas was connected with Pickup Croft Mission of St Peter’s Parish. He was formerly a weaver at Messrs. Blakey’s Sandygate Mill Private Jackson’s brother Joseph has been wounded in the foot. Joseph lives in the Burnley Lane District and has 7 children. 3 nephews are in the army and his sister lives in Norton Street ( number 29) - James Harker 18th Cheshire Regiment. Thomas Harker 6th East Lancashire Regiment. Private Robert Henry Harker is in 2nd Welsh Fusiliers.

Burnley Express - August 2nd 1916
Little Boy Orphan
A pathetic Burnley Case
One of the bonniest little boys anyone could wish to meet has been made an orphan through his father being killed at the Front. The little fellow is Wilfred Jackson, of 128, Sandygate, Burnley and he will not be five years of age until November next. Only last April his mother – who had been an invalid for about two years – died and on Monday morning official news came that his father, Pte. Thomas Jackson, of the 8th Batt. East Lancashier Regt., was killed in action on July 15th. Pte. Jackson, who was 32 years of age, was formerly a weaver at Messers. Blakey’s, Sandygate Mill, and enlisted in November 1914. He came over from the front in April for the funeral of his wife, but unfortunately he could not arrive until two days after the burial. His little son is living with Mrs. Read, who had kept the house during the mother’s illness, and when the father was home in April he appointed her to be Wilfred’s guardian. The little fellow has been going to school now for about a year, and never gives any trouble about getting off to school on time. His father was connected with the Pickup Croft Mission in St. Peter’s Parish. Pte. Jackson’s brother Joseph had been with him all the time at the Front, but now Joseph has been wounded in the foot. Joseph’s wife and seven children live in the Burnley Lane district. Three of his nephews are also in the Army, and his sister Mrs. Harker resides in Norton Street. Mrs. Harker has three sons serving at the front – Pte James Harker, 18th Cheshire Regt, Pte Thomas Harker, 6th East Lancashire Regt., and Pte. Robert Henry Harker, 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Burnley Express - 16th August 1916

....that he lived at 28 Sandygate Burnley and as his wife had died in April 1916 he left an orphan son Wilfred aged 4. He came over from the front for the funeral but was 2 days late. His little son is living with Mrs Reed whom his father appointed to be his guardian. The little boy had been going to school for a year. Thomas was connected with Pickup Croft Mission of St Peter’s Parish. He was formerly a weaver at Messrs. Blakey’s Sandygate Mill Private Jackson’s brother Joseph has been wounded in the foot. Joseph lives in the Burnley Lane District and has 7 children. 3 nephews are in the army and his sister lives in Norton Street (number 29) - James Harker 18th Cheshire Regiment. Thomas Harker 6th East Lancashire Regiment. Private Robert Henry Harker is in 2nd Welsh Fusiliers..




The Burnley News of Saturday, August 5 1916 reported:- “Burnley Brothers. One Killed. Another Wounded"

Mrs Harker of 29 Norton Street, Burnley has just been notified of the death of her brother Private Thomas Jackson of the 8th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. She received previous intimation in a letter from another brother, Private Joseph Jackson of the same regiment, who is wounded and in hospital in France. He wrote on July 15th that he suddenly missed Tom in the fight and as no news had come through about him he presumed that he had been killed. This unfortunately has proved to be the case. Pte Jackson was predeceased by his wife only three months ago, and he was granted special leave to attend her funeral, but he however, arrived too late in Burnley for the internment. He formerly lived in Sandygate, and enlisted at the same time as brother two years ago. He was a weaver at Messrs. Blakey’s and Bibby’s and was 32 years of age. He leaves a little son.”

The following are 4 letters Tom wrote from the Front to the carers of his son after the death of his wife and before he was killed!

March 2nd 1916
No 17412 Pte Tom Jackson B Coy No 6 Platoon
on Active Service with the British Expeditionary Force.
Dear Jud and Ada Just a few lines hoping they find you all in the best of health I was very glad to hear that Wilfrid had got allwright again and going to school again I answered your letter you sent me hoping you have got it we have gone to a fresh part of the line since I wrote you last and I am not sorry either for we never new any minute our time had come I had a bit of a shake in the last place when they was bombarding a airial torpedo burst not far from where I was and they are murderous things I can tell you but I have got over it we are billeted in a farm just behind the firing line we are in support and today we are stood two all day ready to move of at a minutes notice I have been expecting a letter from you this last few days I hope there is nothing wrong with my little lad again for I know there as been measles in Burnley and all passes as been stopped to there for a while Dear old Pall I am about fed up with this life and wish it was all over I am sleeping in the place where the farmer had his pigs and beleave me it is the best place I have had for months you may think in England that it will soon be over but it will last a long time yet the way things is going on for for neither side is making any headway old Bill keeps trying to break through all along the line but he forgets ha as the British Bulldog to beat and that will never be for we will not be beaten and he knows it will we shall have to hope for the best I hope you write back first thing old Pall as I am dying to hear over our Wilf health.
So no more at present from your old Friend Tom
so good morning . Wilf xxxxxxxxxx and God bless you all xxxxxxxxxx Clara xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Saturday April 29th
Dear Jud and Ada, I take great pleasure in writing these few lines hopeing they find you all in the best of health and that our Wilfred is going on allwright you must excuse me not writing sooner as I have not been so well since I came back as I was incolulated in the right breat 2days after I landed back and it nearly puts me out some stand it better than others but I have got quite well again now I hope you have got one of my photos as I left word you had to have one I have had one sent but I expected more as I reconed it up that at least I should have 3 sent me as regard the money for our Wilfrid I knew I should have to see my Coy Quartermaster over it and I have been to see him and he is waiting a reply from Preston as I shall,have to fill a form up the same as I did before I told him you was the guardian but when I told him I wanted him to have the 3/6 his mother had he said he could do nothing till he had word from Preston now if I can sign this 3/6 to him that will make it */6 in all and I want you to write me back and let me know if you will, be satisfied with 5/- a week for his keep and the other 2/6 to Mrs Sagar for his clothes now I know I should have made this arrangement before I came back but when I am in drink I think of nothing there was lots of things I ought to have done wile I was at home if you are not getting any pay for him of course you will get it in the lump sum when things is settled up I have seen the Q M and he says nothing as come through to him we are going back to the tranches next wek so I hope you send me a letter first thing it for as soon as the form come I can settle things up
so no more more at present wishing you the best of health and luck from your old friend Tom
Wilf xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jude and Ada
Just a few lines hoping they find you all in the best of health as I am in the pink just at present I have been expecting a letter for a long time now but as not got one for this last few weeks I am very glad to hear my little las has got quite well again and going on alwright. We are out of the trenches just at present we came out on tuesday night after another bad do we had 3 wounded and 1 killed in my platoon and we had 24 casualties altogether we have still the same old wet weather and I hear you have had your shaire in Burnley the last time we was out of the trenches I sent you a post cards with flags on and for our Wilfrid and one for your Clara and one for Mrs Sagar this is 18 days ago since I sent them I hope you let me know if you have got them I did laugh at that letter your Clara and our Wilfrid wrote I bet they had a bit of fun writing it In have nothing fresh to tell you as things are just about the same I am writing this in bed up in a corner in a old barn our Joe is grumbling over the candle or else we will have none left for morning and it is spitting blood now so no more at present hopeing you write back soon from your most sincere friend Tom
Good night and God Bless you all Wilfrid xxxxxxx xxxxxx Clara xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Tuesday June 20th 1916
Dear Jude and Ada
Just a few lines hoping they find you all in the best of health as I am still in the pink I have been expecting a letter for a long time you might write and keep me informed how my little lad is going on I think everybody has forgotten me now as I hardly get any letters now so just write old Pall and let me know how he is getting on as I get all things in my head when I don’t hear over him You must let me know also how you are going on over his money and if you are getting it every week I keep going to the Quarter Master and asking him over it but he says nothing as come from Preston yet we are back in the trenches again we have only been out for 6 days and we was in for 18 days before that I am getting fed up with this and wish it was all over you must look out for a big battle with the British shortly and I shall be in it well I shall put my trust in the Lord to come through it as I have done before if I go under it will only be like thousands as done before wile I am writing this the Germs are bombarding us but they little know what is in store for them we have some tackle hear that will blow them back to Burton when the time comes as Fletcher Baker come out hear yet I was talking to Arthur Brook’s brother the other week he is in our 2nd Batt so I think this is all at present give my best respects to Mr and Mrs Sagar Billy and Mrs Place and all the boys hope you write back first thing from your old friend Tom
Good afternoon and God Bless you xxxxxxxxxxx All Wilfrid xxxxxxxxxxx
Don’t forget to write xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx Clara xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx

Notes
Tom was also commemorated on the Pickup Croft Sunday School Memorial which was dedicated on 16th September 1922. Pickup Croft was a mission church of St Peter’s Parish and was also used as an Infant School.