No.35760, Private, Jackson BACON
Aged 23
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Jackson BACON was born in Haverhill at 85 High Street,(Risbridge Q3-1894 4A:673), son of Stephen and Kate BACON (née MARSH).
His father had worked as a farm labourer, then coachman/groom to the Gurteen family, born in Steeple Bumpstead to farm labourer John Bacon and Sturmer born Susan. His mother was born in Bartlow, daughter of maltster George Marsh and Hannah, born Helions Bumpstead. Stephen and Kate married in 1890 and lived at 85 High Street for at least 20 years. 1901 census...Aged 6, he was at 85 High Street, Haverhill with his father Stephen BACON [34] coachman, born Steeple Bumpstead; his mother Kate [33] born Bartlow; sisters Hilda [10] and Maud [5]; brother Charles [10 months]. The children were all born in Haverhill 1911 census...Aged 16, a milk boy, he was still at 85 High Street with his parents, father now domestic groom and mother a garment finisher; sisters Maud (day girl) and Ena [7] born Haverhill; brothers Charles and George [4] born Haverhill. Sadly Kate had lost 4 of her 9 children. He moved to Chelmsford and worked at Hoffman's. He was serving in the 5th Platoon, B Company in the 3rd Battalion of the Essex Regiment, then based at Felixstowe in Suffolk, when he married Rose Jane BOWERS in Chelmsford cathedral on on the 10th March 1917. She was born in 9-11-1895 in Great Wratting, into the large family of at least 12 of Thomas and Prudence Bowers. In 1911 Rose was working as cook to a farmer's family at Kirkby Hall, Rushley Green, Sible Hedingham. They lived at 23 Rochford Road, Chelmsford. On the pension card in 1917 his widow was at 27 Duke Street, Chelmsford. Rose married Sidney Smith in Suffolk in 1926. |
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He enlisted in Warley, Essex in the Essex Regiment.
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The battalion were involved in a raid on Hill 70 near Loos en Gohelle. The war diary:- "7:10pm - Capt Silver's party raided the German trenches. All desired ends were attained.A prisoner was captured, the party remained in the German line to full hour appointed, mine shafts and dug-outs were destroyed, a large number of Germans were killed and much artillery fire was diverted from the operations of the 46th Division on our right." CWGC figures put the deaths in the battalion at 16, 7 are buried at Philosophe and 9 are named on the Loos memorial. There were also 2 officers who may well have been attached to the 11th that day. The local press reported that:- "Pte Jackson Bacon, Essex Regt., aged 23, formerly working at Hoffman's and living at 23 Rochford Road, Chelmsford, was killed while assisting to get a badly wounded officer across No Man's Land. His officer writes of him "He was a good soldier, a brave man, and during the attack behaved with the greatest bravery and devotion to duty". The deceased was a native of Haverhill and he leaves a widow, living in Chelmsford." and in the South West Suffolk Echo of 21st July 1917:- "Readers will regret to learn that Mrs J.Bacon has received news that her husband, Pte J.Bacon, 356760, 11th Essex Regt., was killed in action on June 28th. Pte Bacon, who was well known in Haverhill and district, was a son of Mr.and Mrs. S Bacon of 85 High Street, Haverhill. Second Lieut Ernest S.Fitch has written to Mrs.Bacon as follows:- "It is greatest sorrow that I write to inform you of the death in action of your husband. He was killed while assisting to get a badly wounded officer across No Man's Land. Your husband was good soldier and a brave man, and during the attack behaved with the greatest bravery and devotion to duty. I was his Platoon officer and I cannot tell you how sorry I am to lose him. Although gone from here the spirits of the brave men like your husband lives on. Assuring you of my deepest sympathy with you in your great loss" |
photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details