David JACKSON RASC Italy 1944/45

[MonicaL]

The archivist at Lanark Library gets a HUGE gold medal for effort 

He has started trying to find the issue with the photograph. We have hit an immediate problem. The issue no.2259 that you have with the photo does not correspond with the issue no.2259 that is held on record at the archives. I have sent him the attachments that you have posted Suanj as reference. Mr MacIver believes that the issue with the photograph may have an incorrect issue no., particularly with the references on the advertisements on the back of the photo, which is actually the front page of the newspaper. The advertisements seem to indicate that this issue was wartime (taking us back to a war time scenario not late 1949).

Suanj, can you reconfirm which months David Jackson was romantically involved with Davide' mother and when he left?

We love a challenge here on RC 

Monica

[sancti]

It seems the allies invaded Italy in September 1943 and Bologna was liberated April 1945. We have to work out how David got a copy of the article to give to Davide's mother whilst he was in Italy. The photo could be the brothers meeting up anywhere in Italy between those dates. How long would it have taken for the picture to be taken, sent to Carluke and then posted back to David Jackson?

[suanj]

The archivist at Lanark Library gets a HUGE gold medal for effort 

He has started trying to find the issue with the photograph. We have hit an immediate problem. The issue no.2259 that you have with the photo does not correspond with the issue no.2259 that is held on record at the archives. I have sent him the attachments that you have posted Suanj as reference. Mr MacIver believes that the issue with the photograph may have an incorrect issue no., particularly with the references on the advertisements on the back of the photo, which is actually the front page of the newspaper. The advertisements seem to indicate that this issue was wartime (taking us back to a war time scenario not late 1949).

Suanj, can you reconfirm which months David Jackson was romantically involved with Davide' mother and when he left?

We love a challenge here on RC 

Monica

Hi Monica,
thanks, the love story was in november 1944; Davide born in aug 1945..
 thanks a lot,
 suanj

[suanj]

It seems the allies invaded Italy in September 1943 and Bologna was liberated April 1945. We have to work out how David got a copy of the article to give to Davide's mother whilst he was in Italy. The photo could be the brothers meeting up anywhere in Italy between those dates. How long would it have taken for the picture to be taken, sent to Carluke and then posted back to David Jackson?

hi Sancti,
 because Fernanda was pregnant in nov 1944, and so I believe that met David around sep/oct 1944...
 so it is a big problem the newspaper date... but no far from jul/oct 1944..
 what you think?
Thanks,
 suanj

[MonicaL]

Something the archivist at Lanark Library picked up on. One of the advertisements on the back of the photo is announcing the arrival of Spring dresses at Thomson, the drapers. So, in terms of months that the photo appeared, perhaps March/April 1944 (the jury still out on the precise year until we find the correct issue).

Monica

[suanj]

Hi Monica, the year is the 1944, by this last infos, well is the sure issue..
from what Davide said me, when Fernanda knew abt the pregnancy , David left the area at same time.
Thanks a lot dear Monica,
your help is great!
suanj

[suanj]

Hi, I read this article, very interesting, and it is mentioned LAGARO (hamleth of Castiglione dei Pepoli; in the article is mentioned only as Castiglione) just where Fernanda lived
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/96/a4090196.shtml
 it are the date abt the war in this area, as a well the UK force present in the area... this is the period time and the area where Fernanda and David had love story..
 suanj

again on Castiglione:
"On June 17th and July lst, 1944, Kesselring issued orders on this subject. (Copies, with English translations, are annexed hereto and marked 'B' and 'C'). Document 'B' was found at Kesselring's H. Q., after the surrender of the German Forces, whilst Document 'C' was found amongst the records of the Ortskommandatur, Castiglione dei Popli, Nr. Bologna. Other evidence of the issue of this second order to German formations has been found. "
http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/partisans1.htm

" After the fall of Rome the 166th moved north under command of the 10th British Corps, then fighting in the mountainous terrain west of Ancona. During the first weeks of August the Regiment was engaged in the Citta di Castello area north of Perugia. For the remainder of the month, still in the mountains south of Florence, it supported Indian infantry formations near Anghiari, troops of the 85th U.S. Infantry Division and later the 24th Guards Brigade. At the beginning of September the Regiment crossed the Arno River and continued the advance through Castiglione to a position near Vergato, south of Bologna. During the winter of 1944-45 the 166th remained in support of the 24th Guards Brigade, then serving in the Fifth U.S. Army. Snow and ice made living conditions miserable and movement in the Apennines was hazardous. On 19 February 1945 the Regiment was taken out of the line for a rest, so ending an 18-month period during which it had been almost continuously active on the various fronts. It saw no more action. "
http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/SixYears/SixYears-I.html

[sancti]

Thanks to the very helpful staff at Lanark Library a part of the puzzle has been solved.

The date of issue of the Gazette article was 19 May 1944

Mrs Wm Jackson, 82 Miller Street, Carluke, has just received a letter from her husband, Private Jackson of the R.E.M.E., telling how he met up with his brothers, Robert and David, both of the Scots Guards, in Italy

The two Guardsmen got leave and travelled 400 miles on a motorcycle to visit their brother, William, who managed to get two days leave to spend with Robert and David. Needless to say the three men had a grand time. Their only regret was that John another brother, was not with them

Robert and David were wounded early this year by the same shell. Both now seem to be completely recovered.
Their are five of the Jacksons serving with the forces and they are the sons of Mr and Mrs A. Jackson, 9 Highmill Road, Carluke


I wonder if the upside down 'Y' tattoo mentioned in an earlier post was actually a scar from the shell wound.

[MonicaL]

  You're a hero Sancti