Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Jackson, an iron ore labourer, born 1864 in Lincolnshire and his wife Lizzie Ellen Jackson (nee Pearson, married on the 16th March 1885 in Eaton Parish Church), born 1865 in Eaton, Leicestershire, baptised on the 20th April 1865 in Eaton Parish Church. In the first quarter of 1901, Bertie’s father died aged 37 and was interred on the 5th February 1901 in Eaton. Bertie, a schoolboy was born in the 4th quarter of 1891, baptised on the 4th October 1891 in Eaton Parish Church, his siblings were, Thomas William, an ordinary agricultural labourer, born 1885, baptised on the 26th July 1885 in Eaton Parish Church, Fred, a domestic page, born 1887, baptised on the 8th February 1887 in Eaton Parish Church, Walter, a schoolboy, born 1888, baptised on the 23rd December 1888 in Eaton Parish Church, Bertie, a schoolboy, born in the 4th quarter of 1891, baptised on the 4th October 1891 in Eaton Parish Church, George Pearson, born in the 3rd quarter of 1895 in Eaton, Arthur, a schoolboy, born 1897, baptised on the 23rd May 1897 in Eaton Parish Church and Arthur James, born 1901, baptised on the 7th April 1901 in Eaton Parish Church, all his siblings were born in Eaton, in March 1901 the family home was at School Lane, Eaton. In April 1911 Bertie, was employed as an ironstone trade worker and was residing in the family home at Eaton together with his widowed mother and siblings, Albert, a farm horseman, Florrie, a schoolgirl, born 1899, in Eaton, baptised on the 12th March 1899 in Eaton Parish Church and Arthur, a schoolboy. Before the war Bertie had been a labourer working in Asfordby, Leicestershire, he was killed during the Battle of the Somme when a bullet entered his right breast and penetrated his heart killing him instantly. He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry whilst leading a bombing party on German front line trenches. His younger brother George fell in action in March 1918.
Bertie attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve an engagement of 3 years on the 25th September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Eaton, near Grantham, Leicestershire, his age as 23 years and 5 days and his trade or calling as labourer. He gave his present home address as Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother Elizabeth Jackson and brothers Thomas and Frederick Jackson, all of Eaton, Grantham, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighed 136 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 12942 on the 2/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/9/14. Posted to Folkestone on the 28/2/15. Posted to Perham Down on the 8/4/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Killed in action, in the field at a place not stated on the 25/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 2/9/14 – 28/7/15, 320 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 26/9/16, 1 year 60 days. Total service 2 years and 15 days. He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry, the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Bertie’s mother Lizzie Ellen Jackson on the 12th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. H. Moore, Clerk in Holy Orders, Eaton Vicarage, Near Grantham on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Lizzie Ellen Jackson, of Ivy Cottage, Eaton, Near Grantham. Full blood brothers of soldier, Thomas Jackson, age 33 of Ivy Cottage, Eaton, Near Grantham. Fred Jackson, age 32 of Ivy Cottage, Eaton, Near Grantham. Walter Jackson, age 30, 25736, A.V.C., 24th Vet. Hospital, B.E.F., Germany. Albert Jackson, age 25 of Ivy Cottage, Eaton, Near Grantham. Arthur Jackson, age 18 of Ivy Cottage, Eaton, Near Grantham. Full blood sister of soldier, Florrie Jackson, age 20 of Eaton, Near Grantham. Bertie’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.