Sergeant Gordon Jackson
Gordon Jackson was born on 3 March 1893 at 67 Rathmore Street, Belfast, the sixth of thirteen children of harbour policeman (also linen finisher) George Jackson and his wife Catherine (née Owens). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Muckamore, Antrim, with his parents, eight of his eleven surviving siblings, and a nephew, and working as a solicitor's general clerk. He later worked as assistant to the clerk of the Antrim Rural District Council.
Jackson enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 28 May and 2 June 1915 (No.1650 – later Corps of Hussars No.71485). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.
In May 1916 E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
During 1918, perhaps around the time the regiment was dismounted, Jackson was accepted as a candidate for a commission. He embarked for the UK for training as an officer cadet, but the ending of the war meant that this was not completed. On 15 January 1919 he was posted from No.14 Officer Cadet Battalion at Catterick to the 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, pending demobilisation.
On 18 July 1919 Jackson was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
After the war Jackson returned to Muckamore and was again employed as a clerk. On 22 December 1919 he married Isabella Sydney Caton in the Templepatrick Presbyterian Church.
At least one of Jackson's brothers, Samuel, also served in the war, in the Royal Irish Rifles.