More about Jackson

Frederick was serving aboard H.M.S. Magic, a Destroyer, which was severely damaged when she struck a mine laid by German Submarine UC-31, 1.5 miles E.N.E. of Fanad Head with the loss of 25 lives.

Fred Jackson   R.N.

Mr and Mrs T. Jackson, 264 Hilltown, Dundee, have been notified of the death as the result of an explosion of their third son, A.B. Fred Jackson, Royal Navy.  A.B. Jackson, who was 20 years of age, entered the navy at the age of fifteen, and had seen much active service during the war.  A brother is in the King’s Royal Rifles, having come over from Africa to enlist.

Dundee Courier 18^th April 1918

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Frederick T Jackson was the son of Mr Thomas Jackson of 264 Hilltown, Dundee and later at 88 Strathmartine Road, Dundee. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1913, giving his occupation as a Millworker. After initial Naval training at HMS Ganges in Ipswich, Suffolk he was drafted to HMS Hawke in April 1914. On the outbreak of war he was sent to several shore bases until June 1915 when he joined the new cruiser HMS Cleopatra. During his time onboard Cleopatra was involved in several actions in the North Sea including ramming and sinking a German Destroyer. In August 1916 the ship was mined and was out of action for repairs. He fell foul of the Naval Discipline Act and spent time in cells before being drafted to the destroyer HMS Magic. In April 1918, HMS Magic was on patrol off the coast of northern Ireland. She hit a mine about two miles North East of Fanad Head on the north coast of Ireland. The ship was damaged and towed into Lough Swilly. The mine had been laid by U Boat, UC31. Twenty five crew were killed and Frederick Jackson was in that number and is buried in St Columbs Protestant Church Yard, Rathmullan, Lough Swilly, Co Donegal.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie