Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...

William Francis Jackson (1886–1964) distinguished himself in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

.''Supplement to The London Gazette'', 11 July 1940, Issue 34893, p. 4251
/ref> He was Signals Liaison Officer to the Headquarters of the United States Army in the United Kingdom during

and for his work on communication planning for the liberation of France he was awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

and the

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

.''Supplement to The London Gazette'', 30 May 1946, Issue 37585, p. 2614
/ref>''Supplement to The London Gazette'', 3 June 1918, Issue 30716, p. 6462
/ref> His obituary described him as ‘a man of courage, resolution and ability, a natural leader, honoured and respected by all’.

Life

William Francis Jackson was born in Barnsley,

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, in 1886 and educated at

Bedford Modern School Bedford Modern School (often called BMS) is a Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference independent school in Bedford, England. The school has its origins in Bedford Charity, The Harpur Trust, born from the financial endowment, endowments le ...

. He gained a commission in the Royal Engineers in 1912 and saw service in

during the Gallipoli campaign as a Lieutenant in Command of Cable Section ME7. He was invalided from August 1915 to May 1916 after suffering a gunshot wound, was

mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

and awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

on 2 June 1916. After his convalescence in hospital, Jackson went to France in January 1917 as Commanding Officer of A Company 3rd Army Signals and, in 1918, was awarded a bar to his

. He was promoted to Acting Captain in 1918 as second in Command of the 18th Divisional Signals Company before a further promotion to Acting Major and Deputy Assistant Director of the 1st Tank Group Signals. After the

War War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

, he rejoined the Territorial Army with his old company, newly named the 49th (West Riding) Divisional Signal Company, of which he took Command in 1937. He took part in the Narvik Expedition to Norway, and a subsequent expedition to Iceland, after which he was appointed Chief Signals Officer and made Lieutenant Colonel. Jackson was awarded the

Territorial Decoration __NOTOC__ The Territorial Decoration (TD) was a military medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army. This award superseded the Volunteer Officer's Decoration when the Te ...

(of which he held five bars) and was made

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in 1940. He was again

on 20 December 1940 and on 29 January 1942 he was awarded the Certificate of Merit, Gallantry and Good Service by the General Officer Commanding Iceland. Jackson was Signals Liaison Officer to the Headquarters of the United States Army in the United Kingdom during

and for his work on communication planning in the liberation of France he was awarded the

and the

. Jackson retired in 1944 after a fine service record covering 32 years. He died on 9 August 1964 and was buried with full military honours. His obituary described him as ‘a man of courage, resolution and ability, a natural leader, honoured and respected by all’.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, William Francis 1886 births 1964 deaths Officers of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Military Cross Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) People from Barnsley British Army personnel of World War I British Army personnel of World War II People educated at Bedford Modern School Military personnel from South Yorkshire Royal Engineers officers