John Norman Jackson was born on 2nd January 1897 in Preston Brook and baptised on the 20th of that month at Daresbury church. He was the son of John Jackson (born Weston) and his wife Helena (nee Norman) who was born in Preston Brook. The family were residing at the post office in Preston Brook, which at that time was the property next to the Red Lion public house on Chester Road.
The census of 1901 showed that the family were living at the post office. The father was a railway signalman and his wife was the sub-postmistress. Four-year-old John Norman had a brother called Frank L. who was three years his senior. Both boys were born in Preston Brook. Another boy named Wilfrid was born the next year. Frank Lionel would also serve in the Great War.
Ten years later they were still living in Preston Brook and John Norman and Wilfrid were attending school. His older brother was a grocer’s apprentice. The father continued to work as a railway signalman, but the mother was no longer a sub-postmistress. They had been married for 26 years.
It is not clear as to when John Norman enlisted in the Great War as no service records would seem to have survived, but it is known that he served in the 2nd Highland Light Infantry as a Private. He had the service number 54362. In 1918 he was registered on the absent voters’ list for Preston on the Hill. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in the Great War.
On 18th September 1926 he married Gertrude Pattie Payne at Runcorn. She was born on 8th October 1897 in Salford. At the time of their marriage, John Norman was employed as a clerk.
John’s father died on 24th February 1928 aged 70 years and his mother Helena died on 12th June 1929 at the age of 67 years.
The 1939 register showed John and Gertrude living at 78, Lovely Lane in Warrington. He was a clerk and she carried out “unpaid domestic duties”. They had no children.
John Norman and his wife continued to live in Warrington and he worked for a soapworks (Crosfields) as a commercial clerk. He also enjoyed supporting the Wires Rugby League team in Warrington.
Gertrude Pattie died in Warrington on 30th September 1951 at the age of 53 years.
John Norman Jackson died at Warrington General Hospital on 7th September 1973. His address was given as 78, Lovely Lane and he was a retired departmental sales administrator. He was 76 years of age.