Name
Laurence Frederick Jackson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27553
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
St Leonard's Church Roll of Honour, Flamstead, Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
Lawrence Frederick Jackson was born in 1896 in Stopsley to Arthur Thomas Jackson, farm Labourer, and Emma (nee Butterfield).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Percy Thomas (born 1883), Cissie (born 1895), Lawrence and Lily (born 1900) were living at Black Slough, Markyate.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Lawrence. He probably enlisted in 1915 as Private 27553 in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was posted to 6th (Service) Battalion in 37 Division.
Lawrence may have been transferred to 2nd Battalion at some time and took part in some of the Battles of the Somme in Late 1916.
Below is an extract from War Diary of that time -
‘Bazentin-le-Grand (10/10), later to trenches north-west of Flers. Attack on Gird and Bite trenches (12/10) advanced at 2.05pm - leading wave held up by strong machine gun fire about 60 yards in front of Gird. On right - C and D Companies cleared southern end of Gird towards Bayonet Trench. With B Company, latter went on to take 200 yards of Bite. Withdrew to reserve trenches (Switch Line) west of Flers (13/10) Casualties - 252 ‘
It was during the attack on 12 Oct 1916 the Lawrence was reported killed in action. His remains were not recovered and He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 18s 1d was paid to his father Arthur.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Simon Goodwin, Gareth Hughes, Anne & Gordon Mead
