William Francis JACKMAN

1894 - 1984  (89 years)

• Name	William Francis JACKMAN
  Birth	25 May 1894	59, Fernlea Road, Balham, Surrey   [1, 2]
  Baptism	29 Jul 1894	St. Mary, Balham, Surrey   [3]
  Gender	Male
  1901 Census	Crediton Grammar school House, Crediton, Devon   [4]
  	At 1901 Census, he is 7, occ "student"
  1911 Census	The Green, Sherbourne, Dorset   [5]
  	At 1911 Census, he is 16, occ "school"
  1921 Census	60, Park Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk   [6]
  	At 1921 Census, he is 27y 1m, occ "Mercantile Mariner, out of work"
  Occupation	Merchant and Naval Sailor  [7]
  1939 Register	"Westway", Water Lane, Osgoldcross, Yorkshire   [8]
  	At 1939 Register, he is "Officer Mercantile Marine (Retired)"
  Individual Note	Best match on marriage is Apr qtr 1920 , Mutford vol 4a, p2940  [1]
  Individual Note 2	He did not have any children  [7]
  Death	3 Jan 1984	4, Malton Ave., York   [7]
  Person ID	I687	Webb
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	John JACKMAN,   b. 8 Mar 1855, Bow, Devon d. 25 Aug 1923, "Noumea", Phillips Ave., Exmouth, Devon (Age 68 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Hannah Maria BENNETT,   b. 24 May 1863, Marylebone, Westminster d. 13 Feb 1901, 6, Carminia Road, Balham, Surrey (Age 37 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	30 Aug 1893	St. Margaret's, Westminster   [9]
  Family Note	At 1901 Census there is also a cousin, Fanny Howe? a48 from Bow and a servant Mary A Jackman a21 from Bow  [10]
  Family ID	F261	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Kate FENTON,   b. 23 Aug 1893, Monk Fryston, Yorkshire
  Marriage	24 Apr 1920	Lowestoft, Suffolk   [1]
  Notes	William and Kate appear in the 1934 and 1939 electoral roll at Westways, Monk Fryston. This matches the 1939 register, which also gives the road as Water End.
  Family ID	F309	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 25 May 1894 - 59, Fernlea Road, Balham, Surrey Baptism - 29 Jul 1894 - St. Mary, Balham, Surrey 1921 Census - At 1921 Census, he is 27y 1m, occ "Mercantile Mariner, out of work" - - 60, Park Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk Marriage - 24 Apr 1920 - Lowestoft, Suffolk Death - 3 Jan 1984 - 4, Malton Ave., York  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Histories

  William Francis Jackman WW2 story A summary of the time that William Francis Jackman spent during World War 2.

  
  

• Notes

  Merchant Navy records indicate that he was 5' 6.5", blue or grey eyes, either "medium" or "fair" complexion, brown hair. He joined the Training Ship "Mersey" in 1911 and then acted as midshipman rising to Acting Lieutenant in WW1, as part of the Royal Naval Reserve. On 4/9/1918 he was promoted from Acting Lieut to Lieutenant. White Star Officers books records the following information:- Joined the Mersey on 5/9/1911 In Aug 1914 with the outbreak of WW1, he transferred to the armed merchant cruiser "Cedric" He completed his indenture in Sept 1915 He was "proficient in Euclid and Algebra". His height was 5' 6" The Royal Naval Reserve list of 1919 records that he became sub lieutenant on 4/9/1916, when serving on the "Albatross" The most likely match appears to be a torpedo boat (or "C" class) destroyer launched in 1898. Wikipedia states that in 1916 she was at Scapa Flow providing anti submarine defence for the fleet. The only mention I can find relating to Jutland is in supporting HMS Malborough when it was hit - the ship is mentioned for 1st June 1916 After WW1 he became 1stMate Feb 1921, and his address is given as 60, Park Road, Lowestoft. He became a Master Nov 1922. In the context of his father's funeral in Aug 1923, the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette says he "was away at sea" to explain his non appearance at the funeral. In WW2, he was a prisoner at Stalag Luft 3, in the rank of Acting Flying Officer. He was an excellent sportsman, and there are a number of cups from his time at Sherborne Grammar School. A number of additional facts are provided by Nick Fenton in his website www.kenfentonswar.com. Ken Fenton was the pilot of a Blenheim IV of 139 Squadron, which was shot down on return from a bombing raid and ditched in the North Sea 12.48pm on 1st July 1941. At 15.30, Air Sea Rescue were alerted and boat HSL 108 (captained by WFJ) was launched from Gorleston in Norfolk. (Other sites confirm this was the 24 Air Sea Rescue Unit). HSL 108 was captured in the North Sea by the Germans that evening after a flying boat attack from Ar 196 and the crew were picked up by Hs 59 and taken to a port near Amsterdam. WFJ reports that he was in the following camps: Amsterdam 2/7/41-7/7/41 Dulagluft 7/7/41-9/7/41 Oflag IX A/H 9/7/41- Sept 41 Oflag VI B Sept 41-Aug 42 Oflag XXI B Aug 42- Mar 43 Stalag Luft III Mar 43- 29/4/45 (Oflag were camps for Officers). Stalag Luft III was the camp in Poland from which the "Great Escape" happened, though as far as I can tell WFJ had not part in any way on this. But he did take part in the great march back into Germany ahead of the advancing Russians. See also separate document on this. 1939 register address is maybe now either 23a Water Lane or more likely 25 Water Lane.

  
  

• Sources

  [S1177] Jackman Family Bible. [S1421] Birth Certificate :- William Francis Jackman (1894). [S1422] Baptism register :- St Mary, Balham (1894). [S1423] 1901 Census :- Crediton Grammar school House, Crediton, Devon. [S1424] 1911 Census :- The Green, Sherbourne, Dorset. [S2646] 1921 Census :- 60 Park Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk. [S54] Information from the family. [S1425] 1939 Register :- "Westway", Water Lane, Osgoldcross, Yorks. [S1786] Marriage Certificate :- John Jackman - Hannah Bennett (1893). [S1181] 1901 Census :- 6, Carminia Road, Balham, Surrey.