By Mal Butler
The 81-year-old son of a paratrooper, who died during D-Day, honoured his dad with a parachute jump – on Tuesday’s anniversary of the landings.
Malcolm (‘Jacko’) Jackson, a former carpenter from Shanklin, leapt out of a plane at Sandown Airport exactly 79 years after his dad, Frederick, parachuted into Normandy. Frederick was a Lance Corporal, who died while fighting for control of Pegasus Bridge, near Caen, aged 29.
Jacko wore his dad’s dog tags during the jump while his family watched on. He said: “This wasn’t about me, it was about those guys who made the jump on the night.
“If those men, and their comrades, had not won that battle, where would we be today?Once they made the jump, in the dark, they had to get moving as it was imperative for the bridge to be taken.
“From what I know, dad was shot by a sniper around 2am.”
Lance Corporal Jackson was a part of the 7th Parachute Battalion, which was tasked with capturing bridges after arriving on Sword Beach. The successful mission played an important role in limiting the effectiveness of a German counterattack after D-Day.
Jacko’s photographer, daughter Michelle Walton, 52, says her dad has always wanted to do a parachute jump as a tribute. She booked the experience through Skydive IOW, which operates out of Sandown Airport. She said: “He was quite tearful when he found out. He’s older and cannot do things so easily anymore, so the jump was a huge deal for him.”
“The jump really brought back part of his dad’s experience back to life; it’s something so special to him – a life-changing moment.”
Jacko was watched by Michelle, and his other children Abigail, Natasha and Steve.
His mum, Iris Jackson, died in 2015, aged 94, having never remarried and always sad at the loss of her beloved Frederick. Frederick is interred at Benouville churchyard, 10km (6 miles) north-east of Caen, near to Pegasus Bridge.
His grandfather, also Frederick, lost his life fighting during World War I, wiping out two generations of the men of the family.
Pictured: Malcolm (centre) with his children: Abigail, Natasha, Michelle and Steve – By Michelle Jackson
Isle of Wight Observer