Private George Clancy, otherwise known as David Wilfred Jackson
This North Irish Horseman was born with the name David Wilfred Jackson on 8 January 1901 at Batley Carr, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, the last of four children of woollen weaver Ernest William Jackson and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (née Gill). His father died when he was just nine years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 35 Tylderley Road, Blackpool, with his mother (who worked as a company housekeeper and confectionary dealer) and two of his siblings. They later lived at 9 Kirby Road, Blackpool.
Jackson enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Birkenhead, with the name George Clancy, on 27 July 1917. He reported for duty at Antrim five days later, where he was issued regimental number 2639. On his enlistment papers he stated that he was aged 19 years 1 month (his true age was sixteen), that he was born in Dublin, was a labourer at Jacobs (the biscuit factory?) in Dublin, and his next of kin was his sister, Josephine Carr of New Road Dublin. The medical examiner reported that he was missing the third finger of his left hand.
On 17 August at Antrim Clancy was confined to camp for 14 days and deprived of 5 days' pay for being absent without leave from 10 to 14 August until apprehended by the Military Police, and being in possession of a forged pass. On the same day that the punishment was ordered he broke out of camp, remaining absent until the Military Police apprenended him on 21 August. For that offence he was awarded 10 days' Field Punishment No.2 and ordered to forfeit 5 days' pay.
As soon as that punishment ended Clancy again absconded, being apprehended by the Military Police in Belfast on 3 September. Charged with being absent without leave, incurring a car hire, and loss of kit, he was awarded 10 days' Field Punishment No.2, was ordered to pay the car hire and deprived of 4 days' pay.
On 4 September 1917 Clancy's true age and identity were claimed, later confirmed by his birth certificate. On 15 November he was discharged 'having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment, soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge' (paragraph 392(vi)(a), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'Indifferent. ... Conduct unsatisfactory.'
In early 1919 Jackson married Doris Asquith in Rochdale, Lancashire. At the time of the 1939 Register they were living at 25 Tanfield Road, Huddersfield, with a child and Jackson's mother Sarah. He was employed as an engineer's fireman. He died in Huddersfield on 11 February 1972.