Oliver David Jackson

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This article is about the Australian Army officer. For other people, see Oliver Jackson (disambiguation).

Oliver David Jackson
Second World War

Occupation of Japan
Vietnam War

Awards
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
RelationsRobert Jackson (father)
Donald Robert Jackson (brother)

Second World War and the Vietnam War. After graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1939 he served in the Middle East and New Guinea during the Second World War. Later, he commanded the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) and the Australian Army Force Vietnam (AAFV) in 1965–66. In 1966, he became the first commander of 1st Australian Task Force
(1 ATF) in South Vietnam. He subsequently filled a number of senior command and staff positions before retiring in 1974. He died in 2004.

Early life

Jackson was born in London, England, on 24 November 1919.

Gallipoli in 1915 while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier, Jackson was known throughout his life as either "O.D." or David.[3] His father had been commissioned in the Permanent Military Forces (PMF) in 1911, serving in Western Australia.[2]

With the outbreak of the First World War Jackson's father had joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in November 1914, embarking as adjutant of the 10th Light Horse Regiment. On 29 May 1915 he was wounded at Gallipoli and after recovering in England held a number of staff appointments with the 3rd Division on the Western Front in 1917–18.[2][4] Following Jackson's birth the family returned to Australia in 1920 so that his father could resume his military career.[2] He subsequently attended a number of schools, completing his secondary education at Scotch College, Melbourne in 1936, where he was a member of the athletics and rugby teams.[3][5]

Military career

Early career and Second World War

Jackson subsequently joined the

Syria.[7]

Meanwhile, Jackson's father had been appointed to command

major during the period 1943–44.[8] In June 1944, he took up a position as an instructor at the Canadian Staff College in Kingston, where he remained until the end of the war.[6]

Interbellum

Returning to Australia, Jackson filled a number of staff positions, including postings to the Royal Military College, Army Headquarters and Headquarters Western Command.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his service to the Australian Staff Corps.[9]

Vietnam War

In 1961, he took up the position of Director of Infantry at Army Headquarters.

Saigon, known as the Australian Army Force Vietnam (AAFV).[11]

In March 1966, the Australian government further increased its commitment to the

counter-insurgency operations against the Viet Cong. During his period in command the task force was successfully established at Nui Dat, clearing a security zone around the base and conducting offensive operations to the edge of the Tactical Area of Responsibility, while a number of significant actions were fought, including the Battle of Long Tan, which established 1 ATF's dominance over the province.[12] Jackson was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his command of 1 ATF during this period.[13][14]

In June 1967, Jackson returned to Australia having served nearly two years in Vietnam, and subsequently served on the staff of Australian Headquarters.[6] His final posting was as the Chief of Staff at Headquarters 1st Division, before retiring with the rank of brigadier in May 1974.[15]

Later life

Settling in Sydney in his later life Jackson enjoyed sailing and gardening.[15] Married to Dorothy Honor, the couple had a son and two daughters.[5] Jackson died in Burradoo, New South Wales, on 7 May 2004, aged eighty-four.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Australian War Memorial. "2111 Brigadier Oliver David Jackson, DSO OBE (Rtd)". Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g O'Brien 2007, p. 580.
  3. ^ a b Bathgate 2005, p. 268.
  4. ^ Bean 1941, p. 214.
  5. ^ a b Scotch College, Melbourne (23 June 2011). "Scotch College: The Great Scot: Obituaries". Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Palazzo 2006, p. 49.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Bathgate 2005, p. 269.
  8. ^ Dexter 1961, p. 740.
  9. ^ "No. 41590". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1958. p. 38.
  10. ^ Horner 2008, pp. 439–440.
  11. ^ McNeill 1984, p. 61.
  12. ^ McNeill 1993, pp. 414–417 and 433.
  13. ^ McNeill 1993, p. 473.
  14. ^ "No. 44223". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 January 1967. p. 305.
  15. ^ a b Bathgate 2005, p. 270.

References

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