L/Cpl 16186 Roger Francis Jackson

• Age: 32
• From: Chester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Danzig Alley Cem, Mametz
  Panel Ref: Mem18

16186 L/Corporal Roger Francis JACKSON, 18^th Battalion, KLR.

Roger Francis (Frank) Jackson was born in St Oswald’s, Chester on the 14th February 1884, the youngest of five children born to John, and his wife Jessica (nee Lupton) who were married in 1872 in Sedberg, Yorkshire. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 21 Raymond Street, Chester. Roger F. is 17 years of age and is an iron merchant's clerk. He lives with his parents and four siblings. His father, John is aged 60 and is a grocer - employer born in Sedburgh, Yorkshire, whilst his mother, Jessie, is 49 years of age also born in Sedburgh. His siblings, all born in Chester are recorded as;  Edith A. 27, Herbert L. aged 25 and a grocer's assistant, Kate Agnes aged 23 and a baker's shop assistant and Jessica May aged 20.

The family are still living at the address in 1911. Roger is now 27 and he is a clerk in a soap factory (Lever Brothers at Port Sunlight), he lives with his parents and three siblings. His father, John, is aged 70, a grocer and tea dealer, mother Jessie is aged 59 and they advise that they have been married for 38 years and all five of their children have survived. Those siblings listed in the household are shown as; Herbert Lupton Jackson aged 35 and a grocer and tea dealer by trade, Kate Agnes aged 33 and Jessica Mary aged 30 and an assistant in the family business.

Roger was employed at Port Sunlight as one of Lever Brothers' cinematograph operators who accompanied the company "lantern lectures" in tours to meet the public demand for information about "Port Sunlight and Prosperity Sharing".    

On 02^nd September 1914 at St. George's Hall, Liverpool, Roger enlisted, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16186. He gave his age as 30 years 200 days, and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 6' foot tall, weighed 130lbs, 36" chest with a brown complexion, with brown hair and eyes. His religion was stated as Baptist. He gave his next of kin as his father of 21 Raymond Street, Chester. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Whilst training at Belton Park on 15^th June 1915 he was appointed Lance-Corporal (Unpaid) and on 01^st September 1915 was confirmed in the rank and paid. 

He sailed to France aboard the SS Invicta with his Battalion on the 07th November 1915.

He was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.