Pair: Captain A. T. Jackson, Worcester Regiment, who died from an illness contracted while serving in West Africa with the Aro Field Force 1901-02

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1900 (Capt. A. T. Jackson, Worc: Rgt:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Aro 1901-1902 (Capt. A. T. Jackson, Worc: Rgt:) toned, extremely fine and rare (2) £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker.

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The ‘1900’ clasp to the East and West Africa medal was issued to just 30 British officers and 26 N.C.O.s.


Alexander Townsend Jackson was born in Calcutta on 18 November 1869, third son of Judge Elphinstone Jackson, of the High Court of Calcutta. He entered the army through a militia commission on 4 February 1888, as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, being promoted Lieutenant on 9 April 1890. He obtained a regular army commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment on 9 September 1891, being promoted Lieutenant on 24 December 1892. He joined the 2nd Battalion and saw service at Malta, November 1895 to October 1897, and then in Bermuda until November 1899, when the regiment returned to England in preparation for service in South Africa. Jackson, however, had been seconded on 28 September that year for service with the Northern Nigeria Regiment in West Africa, where he arrived on 28 September.

Promoted Captain in the Worcester Regiment with effect from 10 January 1900, he was appointed Captain in the Northern Nigeria Regiment on 1 March following and took part in operations in Northern Nigeria that year with the 1st Battalion, as part of the West African Frontier Force (Medal with Clasp). During the Aro operations of 1901-02 Captain Jackson commanded No. 1 Column in the advance on and occupation of Arochuku (Medal with Clasp). By July 1902, Jackson was back in England and living in London where he died on 13 June 1903, from an illness contracted while serving with the Aro Field Force, having been afflicted with liver disease for 5-6 weeks and chronic dysentery for several months. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Sold with comprehensive research including several copied photographs including a group photo of the 2 Worcester Boat Crew, winners of the Governor’s Cup, Malta, 1896.