Distinguished Conduct Medal : Sergeant E H Jackson, 3 Battalion, AIF

Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Eric Holmes Jackson was born at Bondi, New South Wales in 1886, and was working as a station overseer when he enlisted in the AIF on 17 August 1914. After initial training he was assigned to 3 Battalion as a Private with the service number 140, and embarked with his unit aboard HMAT Euripides (A14) at Sydney on 20 October 1914.

Jackson was with his battalion during the landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. He was promoted to corporal on 23 June, and promoted to sergeant on 1 August. He participated in the attack on Lone Pine, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions on 6 August.

The recommendation for the DCM reads as follows: 'After the assault on Lone Pine, when the telephone wire had been twice cut by the enemy's fire, he went across the open under heavy fire with a third wire. He was prominent in the capture and holding of a trench where he remained till exhausted by fatigue and unable to move. He thus ensured the retention of the trench in spite of losses. He was on the Peninsula from the Landing (25-4-15) to the Evacuation (night of 19, 20-12-15)'

After the evacuation from Gallipoli, 3 Battalion returned to Egypt for rest and training. On 22 March 1916, Jackson embarked with his battalion for France.

3 Battalion commenced operations against the German Army in the Somme Valley, and on 13 July 1916 Jackson was Mentioned in Despatches. His battalion participated in the capture of the village of Pozieres on 23 July as part of 1 Division. Despite German counterattacks and continuous artillery fire the Division held the village for four days before being relieved. Jackson sustained a severe shrapnel wound to the left leg on 26 July, the battalion's last day in the line. He was hospitalised in England and recuperated, returning to his unit on 13 October 1916.

By this time the battalion had moved to Belgium. Jackson was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 November 1916. He spent the next two months on training courses and rejoined his battalion on 30 January 1917. Soon after he was seconded to 1 Training Battalion in England, where he was posted as an instructor at Tidworth Army Barracks. He eventually rejoined 3 Battalion on 13 July 1918. Jackson was wounded for a second time on 23 August, sustaining a gunshot wound to the left elbow, and was again hospitalised in England. While he was there he married a British VAD nurse named Dorothy MacDonnell at Sutton Veny Camp on 18 October. After the Armistice was signed in November, Jackson was granted ANZAC leave. He embarked for Australia on 10 December 1918.

• 1914-15 Star : Sergeant E H Jackson, 3 Battalion, AIF
• Victory Medal with MID : Lieutenant E H Jackson, 3 Battalion, AIF