Date of birth:

November 1919

Date of death:

October 26th, 2006

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Service number 95473.

Burton Jackson was educated at Cheltenham and was commissioned in the East Surrey Regiment in July 1939, direct from the Royal Military College Sandhurst.
He went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 after which he became attached to the newly formed Glider Pilot Regiment in February 1942.
He took command of E Squadron and participated in the Normandy operations in June 1944, the Arnhem operations in September 1944, and the Rhine operations in March 1944.
On D-Day his squadron of 47 Horsa gliders conveyed the main body of the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles to a Landing Zone north-east of Ranville, while in the Arnhem operations in September 1944, his squadron had 40 pilots killed - although wounded in the fighting in the Oosterbeek perimeter, Jackson was able to make his escape by swimming 400 yards across the Rhine, to reach the south bank.
Finally, in March 1945, he led his squadron into action at the crossing of the Rhine, called Operation Varsity, landing his glider, laden with men from the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Regiment, at Hamminkeln. Jackson transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps after the War and was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1969.
His medals were sold at an auction in july 2010 for £3500.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

No. 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Divisional Troops, 6th Airborne Division, British Army

Awarded on:

January 22nd, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

No. 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Divisional Troops, 6th Airborne Division, British Army

Awarded on:

August 16th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Varsity

Recommendation:
"On 24 March 1945, this officer flew a Horsa glider during the airborne assault across the Rhine north of Wessel. Soon after release it was evident that the enemy smoke screen would make it extremely difficult to reach the desired landing area. Major Jackson, who was leading his squadron on to an important objective, pressed home to his allotted landing area. In spite of intense enemy fire and ground opposition, he landed his glider without casualties in the area briefed. This officer’s skill in the air and fine example to his men during the present operation and operations “Neptune” and “Market” has largely contributed to the high standard of flying throughout his squadron."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

No. 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, 1st Airborne Division, British Army

Awarded on:

November 14th, 1947

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36994 published on the 20 March 1945
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37223 published on the 14 August 1945
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38122 published on the 11 November 1947
  - Dix Noonan Webb
  - The Times - Obituaries