The John Chidzey Collection

A scarce Great War M.C. group of three awarded to the Rev. K. C. Jackson, Army Chaplains’ Department, who was attached to the 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Regiment, at the time of winning his decoration on the Somme in July 1916

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved, ‘K. C. Jackson, 19.7.16’; British War and Victory Medals (Rev. K. C. Jackson), very fine and better (3) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Chidzey Collection.

View
Collection

M.C. London Gazette 20 October 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. He assisted the Medical Officer in getting wounded from the front trench, and as Stretcher Bearers were short, he himself carried a wounded man half a mile into safety through a heavy barrage.’

Kenneth Curteis Jackson was was born at Walton on Hill in 1884 and was educated at Haileybury and Keble College, Oxford. Ordained in 1908, he served as Curate of St. Andrew’s Church, Mells, Somerset from 1912, in which latter year he was appointed a Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class and served in that capacity in the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (Territorial Force).

Volunteering for active service in early 1916, he went out to France in April of the same year and won his M.C. while attached to the 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Regiment, during an action north of Orvillers on 19-20 July 1916. Returning home in the following year, Jackson was appointed Curate of Norton St. Philip, near Bath, and remained similarly employed until 1949, though latterly with the additional duties of Prebendary of Wivelisombe in the Cathedral Church at Wells and Rural Dean of Frome.