Private James Jackson

Private James Jackson, 1st/5th ( Dumfries and Galloway ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine on 19th April 1917, aged 27, during the Second Battle of Gaza.  He was the son of Thomas and Martha Jackson of Redmoss, Newcastleton and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel. He had originally enlisted in the 1st Battalion, K.O.S.B. but was later transferred to the 1st/5th Battalion. He fell in the attack on ” Outpost Hill ” In the face of heavy machinegun fire and thick barbed wire defences the Battalion, managed with incredible bravery and in conjunction with 1st/4th K.O.S.B. to capture the strongly held Turkish redoubt but due to heavy losses and a shortage of ammunition could not hold on despite desperate hand to hand combat. Casualties were heavy with 11 Officers and 99 Other Ranks killed or missing and 8 Officers and 226 Other Ranks wounded. Before enlisting he had been employed as a shepherd. The photographs show Borderers in Palestine in 1917.