Cecil James Duke “Jacko; also recorded as Cecil J. D.” Jackson

Captain · #RH4983829 / 308507 · S (inferred) · MBE, MM, MID

What this roll records

HIS MENTION IN DESPATCHES, DATED. London Gazette, 11 December 1942, Supplement 35821, page 5442, under the regimental heading “Foresters”: “4983829 Sergt. C. J. Jackson.” That supplement is the Mentioned in Despatches list for the Middle East covering November 1941 to April 1942, its preamble on page 5437 reading “The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East”. Number, initials and rank all agree with this card, and the regimental heading confirms the Sherwood Foresters attribution it already carries. He was a Sergeant at the time, which agrees with the March 1942 roll noted above. His M.B.E. and M.M. do not appear in this notice. Source: The London Gazette.

Patrol S (S1/S2) INFERRED from Rhodesian/South African service number (SR/RH prefix) - the LRDG Rhodesian & S.African squadron formed S Patrol. Specific S1/S2 not individually confirmed.

Additional service number(s) from Rhodesia roll: 308507. Source: Rhodesia Nominal Roll (Brendan O’Carroll).

IWM 1945 roll entry "Jackson C.J.O." (Captain) merged here — same man (already recorded as Captain). Source: IWM Nominal Roll, LRDG Association, July 1945 (Imperial War Museum).

March 1942 roll (courtesy Tarek el Mahdy): Sergeant

HIS MILITARY MEDAL, CONFIRMED AND DATED. London Gazette, 20 July 1943, Issue 36102, page 3317, under “The Military Medal.”: “No. 4983829 Sergeant Cecil James Duke Jackson, The Sherwood Foresters.” HIS INITIALS RESOLVED: J. D. is JAMES DUKE. The Sherwood Foresters are confirmed a second time, his Mention having been printed under the same regimental heading in December 1942. Source: The London Gazette.

A NOTE ON THE SECOND SERVICE NUMBER. The alternate number carried on this card from the Rhodesia roll, 308507, belongs to someone else: London Gazette, 26 January 1962, Supplement 42583, page 795, “Lt. A. H. DEACON (308507).” The primary number, 4983829, is sound — it returned both his Mention and his Military Medal, naming him outright each time — so nothing on this card depends on 308507. It is recorded because the alternate numbers taken from the Rhodesia roll deserve the same scepticism as the primary ones. Source: The London Gazette.

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