Arnold Jackson
Encyclopedia
Brigadier-General Arnold Nugent Strode Strode-Jackson CBE
DSO & Three Bars
(5 April 1891 – 13 November 1972) was a British athlete, British Army
officer, and a barrister
. He was the winner of the 1500m at the 1912 Summer Olympics
, in what was hailed at the time as "the greatest race ever run". He was the youngest ever British Army
Brigadier-General, as well as being amongst the most highly decorated British World War I officers.
, Surrey, changing his surname to Strode-Jackson on 31 March 1919 (as noted in London Gazette of 1 April 1919). He was the son of Morton Strode Jackson ISO and Edith Rosine Martin, and grandson of Lt-Gen George Jackson.
His uncle was Clement Jackson
, athlete, academic, bursar of Hertford College, Oxford
, and co-founder of the Amateur Athletic Association. His sister was the novelist Myrtle Beatrice Strode Strode-Jackson.
He was educated at Malvern College
, where he was head of his house and head of the athletics team, and there acquired the nickname, "Jackers". Jackson entered Brasenose College, Oxford
in 1910, where he took a degree in law.
and played football and hockey
for Brasenose College, being captain of the hockey team. He won the mile race for Oxford
against Cambridge
three times and was President of the Oxford University Athletic Club.
In 1912, while still an undergraduate, Jackson cut short his fishing holiday in Norway, and travelled by train to compete in that year’s Olympic Games in Sweden. He had to compete as a private entry, not having been chosen by the Great Britain team, along with his friend from Cambridge, Philip Baker
, another private entry. This was the last Olympics at which such private entries were allowed. Even when compared to the amateurish race preparation of the era, Jackson's training regime of massage, golf and walking seemed very relaxed.
At Stockholm
, American hopes were high to win a gold in 1500 m, as the USA dominated mile racing at that time, and seven of the runners in the final were from the USA. The race started at a modest 65 second pace, until Norman Taber
from USA took the lead and increased the pace. At the bell for the final lap, Abel Kiviat
, a world record
holder in 1500 m from USA, was first, followed by Taber and John Paul Jones, the mile world record holder from the USA. On the final turn, Mel Sheppard
and Jackson also joined the crowd on his heels, with Sweden
's Ernst Wide
closing fast. The three Americans ran abreast in an attempt to stop anyone from overtaking, so Jackson had to run wide. With 50 yards left, Jackson came even with Kiviat and Taber, as Jones and Wide started to fade. Jackson summoned one last burst and captured the gold in 3:56.8, an Olympic record. Kiviat and Taber both clocked 3:56.9, and the photo had to be reviewed before officials handed the silver to Kiviat. Baker finished sixth. At the time, it was widely acclaimed as being "the greatest race ever run". Aged 21, Jackson remains the youngest ever Olympic 1500m gold medalist.
.
In December 1914, he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant. On 1 July 1916, he was promoted to Captain. He was made an Acting Major by the time of his first DSO on 4 June 1917, and in August 1917, Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. He was made a full Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1918, and Acting Brigadier in October 1918.
Jackson served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, becoming the youngest Brigadier-General in the British Army and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order
with three bars. The war put an end to his sporting career, for he was wounded three times and left permanently lame.
, as follows:
As well as having a Mention in Dispatches for each of his DSO awards, he had six additional Mentions in Dispatches, all published in the London Gazette
:
, and was awarded the CBE for his work there. He was called to the Bar at Middle Temple
.
He went on to be a member of the British Olympic Council in 1920, and a major force in the founding of the Achilles Club
.
He emigrated to the United States in 1921, where he worked in industry and as a Justice of the Peace
in Connecticut
. He directed the first Kentucky Derby Festival
in 1935. During World War II, he was a Colonel on the staff of the Governor of Kentucky
, and Administration Officer of the Inspection Board of U.K. and Canada in New York and Ottawa, in charge of Inspectors and anti-sabotage precautions. He also met convoys arriving in New York and give what help he could to returning servicemen.
He became a US citizen in 1945.
In 1963, on the death of his wife Dora, he returned to Oxford where he lived until his own death on 13 November 1972.
A full length oil painting of Jackson is prominently displayed at Vincent's Club
in Oxford, having been rescued and repaired after lying neglected for many years in a Brasenose College cellar.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DSO & Three Bars
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(5 April 1891 – 13 November 1972) was a British athlete, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, and a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. He was the winner of the 1500m at the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
, in what was hailed at the time as "the greatest race ever run". He was the youngest ever British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Brigadier-General, as well as being amongst the most highly decorated British World War I officers.
Early life
He was born Arnold Nugent Strode Jackson at AddlestoneAddlestone
Addlestone is a town in the borough of Runnymede in the county of Surrey, England.Immediate surrounding towns and villages include Weybridge, Ottershaw, Chertsey, and New Haw. It is near Junction 11 of the M25 motorway and is served by Addlestone railway station on the Chertsey Branch Line. It also...
, Surrey, changing his surname to Strode-Jackson on 31 March 1919 (as noted in London Gazette of 1 April 1919). He was the son of Morton Strode Jackson ISO and Edith Rosine Martin, and grandson of Lt-Gen George Jackson.
His uncle was Clement Jackson
Clement Jackson
Clement Nugent Jackson was a British athlete, academic and athletics administrator.-Early life:He was born in Simla, India, the second son of Lt-Gen George Jackson of the Bengal Staff Corps, and Phillis Sophia Strode....
, athlete, academic, bursar of Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
, and co-founder of the Amateur Athletic Association. His sister was the novelist Myrtle Beatrice Strode Strode-Jackson.
He was educated at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
, where he was head of his house and head of the athletics team, and there acquired the nickname, "Jackers". Jackson entered Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
in 1910, where he took a degree in law.
Athletic career
Jackson rowedWatercraft rowing
Watercraft rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of oars in the water. The difference between paddling and rowing is that with rowing the oars have a mechanical connection with the boat whereas with paddling the paddles are hand-held with no mechanical connection.This article...
and played football and hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
for Brasenose College, being captain of the hockey team. He won the mile race for Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
against Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
three times and was President of the Oxford University Athletic Club.
In 1912, while still an undergraduate, Jackson cut short his fishing holiday in Norway, and travelled by train to compete in that year’s Olympic Games in Sweden. He had to compete as a private entry, not having been chosen by the Great Britain team, along with his friend from Cambridge, Philip Baker
Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker
by Philip Noel-Baker with other authorsby others* Lloyd, Lorna: Philip Noel-Baker and the Peace Through Law in -External links:...
, another private entry. This was the last Olympics at which such private entries were allowed. Even when compared to the amateurish race preparation of the era, Jackson's training regime of massage, golf and walking seemed very relaxed.
At Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, American hopes were high to win a gold in 1500 m, as the USA dominated mile racing at that time, and seven of the runners in the final were from the USA. The race started at a modest 65 second pace, until Norman Taber
Norman Taber
Norman Stephen Taber was an American middle distance runner. He was the first amateur runner to surpass Walter George's professional record in the mile, set nearly 30 years previously...
from USA took the lead and increased the pace. At the bell for the final lap, Abel Kiviat
Abel Kiviat
Abel Richard Kiviat was an American middle distance track event middle distance runner.-Career:...
, a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
holder in 1500 m from USA, was first, followed by Taber and John Paul Jones, the mile world record holder from the USA. On the final turn, Mel Sheppard
Mel Sheppard
Melvin Whinfield "Peerless Mel" Sheppard was an American athlete, member of the Irish American Athletic Club and winner of four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics...
and Jackson also joined the crowd on his heels, with Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Ernst Wide
Ernst Wide
Ernst Wide was a Swedish athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metre team.He competed for a Sweden in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden in the 3000 metre team where he won the silver medal with his team mates Thorild Ohlsson and Bror Fock....
closing fast. The three Americans ran abreast in an attempt to stop anyone from overtaking, so Jackson had to run wide. With 50 yards left, Jackson came even with Kiviat and Taber, as Jones and Wide started to fade. Jackson summoned one last burst and captured the gold in 3:56.8, an Olympic record. Kiviat and Taber both clocked 3:56.9, and the photo had to be reviewed before officials handed the silver to Kiviat. Baker finished sixth. At the time, it was widely acclaimed as being "the greatest race ever run". Aged 21, Jackson remains the youngest ever Olympic 1500m gold medalist.
Military career
At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, Jackson was commissioned in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and, in September 1914, was attached to the 13th (Service) Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, as a 2nd Lieutenant. He went over to France with the battalion and was with them until promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1918, when he took command of the 13th Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle CorpsKing's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
.
In December 1914, he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant. On 1 July 1916, he was promoted to Captain. He was made an Acting Major by the time of his first DSO on 4 June 1917, and in August 1917, Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. He was made a full Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1918, and Acting Brigadier in October 1918.
Jackson served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, becoming the youngest Brigadier-General in the British Army and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
with three bars. The war put an end to his sporting career, for he was wounded three times and left permanently lame.
Medals and honours
He was awarded his DSO and Three Bars, with citations from the London GazetteLondon Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
, as follows:
- DSO awarded 4 June 1917, general citation.
- 1st Bar awarded on 18 July 1917, "for conspicuous gallantry during lengthy operations, when he assumed command of the battalion and, although wounded on two separate occasions, was able to carry out most valuable work. By his skill and courage he offered a splendid example to all ranks with him."
- 2nd Bar awarded on 13 May 1918, "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His battalion was subjected to an intense bombardment throughout a whole day, which caused many casualties and cut off all communication by wire with the front-line companies. He handles the situation with such skill and initiative that when the enemy attacked towards evening the casualties caused by the bombardment had been evacuated and replaced by reinforcements and communication with the front line had been re-established. It was entirely due to his powers of command and the splendid spirit with which he inspired his men that the attack on the greater part of his front was repulsed, and that the enemy, though they penetrated into parts of the front line, were counter-attacked and held at bay until the arrival of reinforcements. By his skilful dispositions he materially assisted the counter-attack which finally drove the enemy back with heavy losses and completely re-established the position."
- 3rd Bar awarded on 2 December 1918, "for conspicuous gallantry and brilliant leadership. During an attack by our troops Lt-Col Jackson advanced with the leading wave of his battalion, and was among the first to reach the railway embankment. The machine-gun fire against them was intense, but the gallant leading of this officer gave such impetus to the assault that the enemy¹s main line of resistance was broken. He was subsequently wounded during the work of consolidation."
As well as having a Mention in Dispatches for each of his DSO awards, he had six additional Mentions in Dispatches, all published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
:
- 15 June 1916
- 23 July 1917
- 21 December 1917
- 24 May 1918
- 28 December 1918
- 12 January 1920
Later life
He was a member of the British delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
, and was awarded the CBE for his work there. He was called to the Bar at Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
.
He went on to be a member of the British Olympic Council in 1920, and a major force in the founding of the Achilles Club
Achilles Club
The Achilles Club is a track and field club formed in 1920 by and for past and present representatives of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Members have won 19 Olympic Gold Medals , and held 38 World Records...
.
He emigrated to the United States in 1921, where he worked in industry and as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He directed the first Kentucky Derby Festival
Kentucky Derby Festival
The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville, Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May, the day of the Kentucky Derby...
in 1935. During World War II, he was a Colonel on the staff of the Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
, and Administration Officer of the Inspection Board of U.K. and Canada in New York and Ottawa, in charge of Inspectors and anti-sabotage precautions. He also met convoys arriving in New York and give what help he could to returning servicemen.
He became a US citizen in 1945.
In 1963, on the death of his wife Dora, he returned to Oxford where he lived until his own death on 13 November 1972.
Personal life
In 1918, he married Dora Mooney, daughter of the late William Allen Mooney of Silver Hills, New Albany, Indiana, USA.Legacy
A play about his life, “Strode-Jackson” was written by Mike Hodd and Jack Thorington, and premiered at the King's Head Theatre, London, in 1979.A full length oil painting of Jackson is prominently displayed at Vincent's Club
Vincent's Club
Vincent's Club is a sports club predominantly but not exclusively for Oxford Blues at Oxford University.The club was founded in 1863 by the oarsman Walter Bradford Woodgate of Brasenose College, Oxford, and he was the first president of the club...
in Oxford, having been rescued and repaired after lying neglected for many years in a Brasenose College cellar.