Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy
Born: May 14th 1918
Died: May 26th 1940
Age at Death: 22
Dennis Jackson was born on 14 May 1918 in Gilmerton, Scotland to Emma and John Jackson, a major in the Royal Artillery. During his four years at the College he was a keen sportsman and athlete, winning medals in both the half mile and full mile running races.
In the Second World War Jackson served on the Royal Navy’s HMS Curlew, an anti-aircraft cruiser. On 24 May 1940 the ship was deployed to defend Allied forces near Narvik in northern Norway, following the country’s invasion by Germany. Precisely a fortnight earlier Neville Chamberlain had been compelled to resign as premier after withering criticism over the government’s conduct of the Norway campaign. Two days later HMS Curlew was attacked and sunk by German bombers. Nine sailors were lost with the ship, including Jackson.
Jackson is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial, which remembers naval personnel lost or buried at sea during the two World Wars.
Dennis’s younger brother, Kenneth (q.v.), was also killed during the war while serving with the Royal Navy.