Dave asked me if I had a photograph of my Grandfather, so I decided to introduce him to you.
MAJOR LEWIS JACKSON, TD, RA (18th April 1888 - 30th September 1948)
Grandfather, Lewis Jackson TD, RA, was an 'Old Contemptible'. He joined the Royal Field Artillery in 1905 at the age of 16. He was a Sergeant when his Regiment was sent as part of the British Expeditionary Force to Belgium on 22nd August 1914. By 29th November 1914, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. After service in France, Belgium, Mesopotamia and India, he ended the War with the Dunsterville Column (Dunsterforce).
He became a temporary Captain in January 1918, survived the War, returning home at Christmas 1919. In 1923, the British Government reduced the Armed Forces and to his great disappointment because he 'only knew soldiering', he lost his job. He joined the TA the same day with the rank of Honorary Captain, Regular Army Reserve of Officers.
Grandfather also served during WW2. While he was in command of 208 Battery at Green Street Green, they made headline news when they shot down two Dornier 17s with one salvo on 8th September 1940.
He retired from the Army on the grounds of ill health in 1942 and died on 30th September 1948.
He was a past president of the Royal British Legion Crayford Branch, a member of the Old Contemptibles, Woolwich and of the Royal Field Artillery Old Comrades. He was a Freemason and had a military funeral with pall bearers from the RA Depot, Woolwich, with the gun carriage being accompanied by members of RFAOCA, Q Battery, 458 Heavy AA Regiment and Old Contemptibles Association, Woolwich.
In the photo Grandfather is a Major - the one in the middle holding a baton - which he became in 1929.
Lucy London, August 2013
