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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 589

The campaign group of seven awarded to Private E. Jackson, HQ Company, 1st Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division, one of the 'best of the best' who was taken a Prisoner of War at the Battle of Arnhem on 21 September 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France & Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R. Territorial (2042593 Pte. E. Jackson. Para Regt.), mounted as worn, very fine (7)

Empsall Jackson was born at Battyeford, Yorkshire on 4 February 1918 and joined the Royal Engineers in May 1937. He may have served that unit during the 1940 campaign but latterly joined the Parachute Regiment. It was with the HQ Company, 1st Parachute Brigade, arguably the 'best of the best' of this elite force which he served at the Battle of Arnhem - he had also been photographed with them in June 1944 at Belton House, Lincs. They formed the Defence Platoon for Brigadier Lathbury in the houses immediately next to Arnhem Bridge until their CO was wounded on 18 September. When Frost took over, Jackson and his comrades held true till the bitter end. It was understood that just three of their number which had totalled 82 escaped being killed or captured. Jackson went 'in the bag' on 21 September 1944.

Whilst in a working camp at Dresden, he was put to work repairing bomb damage but was admitted to hospital for some three weeks whilst there with a severe skin complaint. He had previously been interogated and put in solitary confinement at Frankfurt in order to try and extract information from him.

Jackson returned home in May 1945 and took up work as in the chemical process industry at Huddersfield and died on 11 November 1962, aged just 44; sold together with original forwarding slip for the campaign awards, besides copied research and extracts.

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Sold for
£5,000

Starting price
£1600