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1914-15 Star Trio Finsbury Rifles KIA Gallipoli

1914-15 Star Trio, 2627 Private William Colin Jackson, 11th London Regiment, the Finsbury Rifles, who was killed in action on 18th August 1915, at Suvla, Lone Tree Gully. Only 8 days into his war service.

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SKU: J7064 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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1914-15 Star Trio, 2627 Private William Colin Jackson, 11th London Regiment, the Finsbury Rifles, who was killed in action on 18th August 1915, at Suvla, Lone Tree Gully.

 

All medals officially impressed: “2627 Pte. W. C. Jackson. 11- Lond. R.”

 

The Finsbury Rifles 1st 11th London Regiment, were heavily engaged at Gallipoli and lost many men, for further research the Islington Museum has an interesting project with many photos and the full war diary of the regiment.

 

Click Here for the Friends of the Islington Museum, Finsbury Rifles at Gallipoli Project.

 

William Colin Jackson, was a local Londoner, born during 1896 in Pancras, London. He received his education from 1908 at South Norwood Boys School in Croydon.

 

By the 1911 Census he was a 14 year old Apprentice to a Printer working in Croydon.

 

When the war began he joined the 11th Battalion London Regiment, the Finsbury Rifles.

 

He first entered into the war on 10th August 1915 when the regiment arrived in Egypt, before departing for Gallipoli. The Finsbury Rifles were sent as reinforcements by Lord Kitchener to attempt to break the stalemate.

 

The regiment first disembarked at Suvla Bay on 10th August 1915. Only 5 days later on the 15th August, the rifles were engaged in a dead action at Kiretch Tepe Ridge, they were initially held as reinforcements and little fighting was anticipated. However during the attack the Leading battalion, the 1st/5th Bedfords came under heavy fire in the gullies and fell apart. The Finsbury Rifles and the 1st 10th (Hackneys) were then dribbled forward to reinforce the line.
The battalions “Gallantry breasted the gully-riven slopes of the ridge, and ultimately advanced the left of the line to the south western shoulder of Kidney Hill.” But they were unsupported and withdrew that night to positions in Lone Tree Gulley.

 

During the retreat Major G.F.M. Davies of the 1st 11th was killed covering the retreat of the rear party. The next day the battalion was heavily shelled in Lone Tree Gully.
The 15-16th August led to a heavy 360 casualties to the battalion.

 

The entry from the war diary of the regiment on 18th August, where Pte Collins appears to have met his death by an enemy shell or Turkish Sniper:

 

“Quiet day in trenches. Shelling and sniping at intervals and a few casualties. Battalion now practically accounted for.”