Captain JAMES JOSEPH BERNARD JACKMAN

The citation in the London Gazette of the 27th March, 1942, gives the following details: On November 25th, 1941, Captain Jackman was in command of a machine gun company of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the tank attack on El-Duda Ridge, south-east of Tobruk. The tanks were met by such heavy and intense fire that it seemed doubtful whether the brigade could hold the position. In the front they were assailed by the batteries they were attacking, and on their flanks by anti-tank guns. Captain Jackman calmly and rapidly got his guns into action and secured the right flank. Then, standing up in his truck he led the other trucks across the front between the tanks and the guns to get them into action on the left flank. Coolly directing the guns to their positions and indicating to them their targets, he seemed at that time to bear a charmed life, but later on he was killed. Throughout the attack Captain Jackman showed outstanding gallantry, and devotion to duty above all praise. His magnificent bearing, inspiring his men with confidence and the tank crews with determination not to relinquish the position they had gained, contributed in a large measure to the success of a most difficult and hard fought action.