Warrant Officer Sidney Jackson
Sidney Jackson was born on 21 September 1882 at Castleblayney, County Monaghan, the last of six children of bank manager (later farmer and JP) Sidney Gibson Jackson and his wife Sarah (née Walker). At the time of the 1901 Census he was living on the family farm at Longfield, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan, with his parents and his three surviving siblings. His mother died the following year.
Jackson enlisted in the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry between 1902 and 1908. On 6 July 1908, when the North Irish Horse was formed following the Yeomanry regiment's disbandment, Jackson transferred to the new regiment. He was assigned No.30 on the new regiment's roll, serving in D (Dundalk) Squadron. Soon after he was appointed Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant. At the annual camp in June and July 1909 he came second in the competition for best shot in the regiment.
At the time of the 1911 Census Jackson was living at the Longfield farm with his father and three sisters. His father died two years later.
By 1914 Jackson had risen to the rank of regimental quartermaster sergeant. In April that year he was one of four senior NCOs of the North Irish Horse to be awarded a Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Soon after this Jackson left the North Irish Horse. On the outbreak of war, however, he immediately re-enlisted, receiving a new regimental number – 959 (later Corps of Hussars No.71178). It is probable that he was the first war-time enlistment when recruitment opened on 8 August.
During 1915 he gained the rank of warrant officer 2 when that rank was introduced.
Jackson embarked for France between 1916 and 1918, perhaps as part of E Squadron in January 1916. Nothing more has been discovered about his service during the war. On 28 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
He died on 21 May 1924 in the Richmond Nursing Home, Belfast, and was buried in St Finbarr's Church of Ireland churchyard, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.
The first image shows Jackson in July 1914, the second in November 1914. The full pictures can be seen here and here. Another image of Jackson is here.
This page last updated 2 November 2023.