February 4, 2024

Jackson Family War Roll Call

Nelson and Sarah Jackson with four of their family arrived in the Milton region in 1855. Many of their grandson served in WW1, they include Ambrose Richard Phillip Jackson, Clarence John Jackson, Ernest Jackson and Henry Phillip Jackson.

Their son Phillip Jackson was part of the Australian Contingency that assisted the British Forces in the Sudan War. He was born 22 Sept 1865 at Narrawallee Farm, Ulladulla (now part of Milton). He died 18 May 1885 Suakin, a memorial stands for him at Milton Methodist Cemetery. Phillip Jackson is one of the nine names on the National Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial for the Sudan War.

Two other grandsons were Conrad Phillip Faust and his brother Peter Nelson Faust, both born at Milton, the sons of Johann Michael Faust from Germany and his wife Sarah nee Jackson.

Ernest Jackson was born in 1890 at Milton, his mother Clara died in 1893, his father later married her younger sister Catherine and the family moved to Knockrow in about 1904. Ernest was one of the original members of the Milton volunteer cadet corps when form in 1901. He enlisted into the war in Sep 1914 at Lismore, living at Lillian Rock Nimbin and became a member of the 9th Battalion.

At the Woodstock Congregational Cemetery Milton on their mother’s grave, there is a memorial to Ernest. At Anzac Cove at Gallipoli he received wounds on 25 April 1915, and died aboard the hospital ship ‘Gascon’ on 2 May 1915.

Their father James learnt about Ernest’s death at Gallipoli in the newspaper before the official letter arrived. Ernest name is listed on Panel 31 at The Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli.

The Hospital ship Gascon was one of the ships which carried wounded personnel from Gallipoli to Alexandria Egypt. Barges would bring wounded soldiers alongside the Hospital Ship Gascon. The staff of Gascon was made up from the Indian Medical Service medical officers, a Royal Army Medical Corps matron, Australian nursing sisters and Royal Army Corps and Indian Medical Service orderlies.

None of the Jackson boy names are on the Milton Town memorial but Ernest and Henry Jackson names are listed many other local honour rolls: Milton Public School, Milton Congregational and Croobyar Public School. With Ambrose, Ernest and Henry Jackson mentioned in the weekly Milton’s Roll of Honor published in the Ulladulla Milton Times Newspaper.