Geoffrey Jackson (cricketer)

Geoffrey Jackson
Personal information
Full name Geoffrey Laird Jackson
Born 10 January 1894(1894-01-10)
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Died 9 April 1917(1917-04-09) (aged 23)
Arras, Belgium
Batting style Right-handed batsman
Bowling style Right-arm medium pace bowler
Relations Guy Jackson, Anthony Jackson
Domestic team information
Years Team
19121914 Derbyshire
1914 Oxford University
First-class debut 26 August 1912 Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire
Last First-class 27 June 1914 Derbyshire v Somerset
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 150
Batting average 12.50
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 50
Balls bowled 426
Wickets 10
Bowling average 23.80
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 3-52
Catches/stumpings 4/-
Source: [1], December 2011

Geoffrey Laird Jackson (10 January 1894 - 9 April 1917) was an English cricketet who played for Derbyshire from 1912 to 1914, and for Oxford University in 1914. He died of wounds in World War I.

Jackson was born at Birkenhead, Cheshire, the eldest son of Brigadier General Geoffrey M. Jackson and of his wife Jessie C. C. Jackson. His father commanded the Sherwood Foresters and was managing director of the Clay Cross Colliery Company. Jackson was educated at Harrow School and was in the cricket XI in 1911, 1912 and 1913, being captain in the last year. While still at school he played first class cricket for Derbyshire. He made his debut in August 1912 against Nottinghamshire in which he took a wicket and two catches and scored 2 in the only innings he played. He played two matches for Derbyshire in 1913.

Jackson then went to Balliol College, Oxford[1] and was twelfth man in the Oxford XI, appearing in three matches for the University in 1914. He played one county championship match for Derbyshire in 1914 before the First World War in which he lost his life..

Jackson was a right-hand batsman and played twelve innings in seven first class matches with an average of 12,50 and a top score of 50. He was a right-arm medium pace bowler and took ten first class wickets at an average of 23.80 and a best performance of 3 for 52.[2]

Jackson was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade on the outbreak of World War I and went to France in October, 1914. He was invalided home, after the Second Battle of Ypres, suffering from gas poisoning and spent some months in England serving his Reserve Battalion. He returned to France, as Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, in December, 1915, and was mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1916. He served continuously until his death on 9 April 1917 at the Battle of Arras. He was mortally wounded by a piece of shell after advancing about 6000 yards, and died at Faimpoux, Arras, Belgium before reaching the dressing station.[3]

Jackson's brother Guy Jackson and cousin Anthony Jackson also played cricket for Derbyshire.

References