1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Richard Compton Jackson was born in Gloucester in 1895, the only son of a father of the same name, a commercial traveller, and his wife Mary Eliza. At the time of the 1911 Census Richard junior) was at school and the family lived at Rose Villa, Lightpill, Stroud.
Unfortunately Richard’s service record has not survived but it is known that he had enlisted as a Territorial and his number, 1628, indicates that he was likely to have joined the 1/5th Glosters prior to the start of the Great War. He went to France with the battalion on 29 March 1915 and over the next two years or so achieved promotion to Sergeant and with the re-numbering of those serving in Territorial units in 1917, he was given the number 240140.
According to a report in the Stroud News, Sergeant Jackson was severely wounded in the head on 17 August 1917. On this date the 1/5 Glosters were part of 145 Brigade. 48 (South Midland) Division and engaged in the Battle of Langemark, one of the actions of the Third Ypres offensive. He was captured by the Germans, who dressed his wound. During the night he escaped back to the British lines but died eight days later, on 25 August. He was aged 22 and had been on active service for three years.
He had been awarded the Military Medal in November 1916 and the Stroud News reported that he was being recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, although this does not appear to have been awarded. Sergeant Jackson is buried at Mendingham Military Cemetery, near Ypres.