Passport Land
- Arnold Nugent Strode Jackson (1891-1972)
Biography
Brigadier-General Arnold Nugent Strode Strode-Jackson CBE DSO &
Three Bars (5 April 1891, Addlestone, Surrey - 13 November 1972,
Oxford, Oxon) 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, and the
second of only eight men ever awarded the DSO with Three Bars.
Early life
He was born Arnold Nugent Strode Jackson at Addlestone, 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 (6 March 1847-1913) and Edith Rosine Martin (1861/62 Luton,
Beds), and grandson of Lt-Gen George Jackson.
His sister Myrtle Beatrice Strode Strode-Jackson (born 6 June 1885 in
London) was a novelist.
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.
Athletic career
Jackson rowed 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 "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 Corps.
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.
Later life
He was a member of the British delegation at the Paris Peace
Conference, 1919, 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 meet
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 Berryman Mooney, daughter of the late William
Allen Mooney of Silver Hills, New Albany, Indiana, USA.
They had children:
- Denis Graham Mooney Strode-Jackson (2 Aug 1919, Merstham,
Surrey, England - 16 Aug 2004, Windham Hospital, Willimantic, CT).
Denis Strode-Jackson, 85, of Storrs, Mansfield CT, grew up in Kentucky
and spent his early years in English boarding schools and later at a
military academy in Florida. A veteran and POW of World War II, he was
captured by the Germans at the battle of Anzio. After spending 18
months as a "guest" of the Nazis, he was liberated by the Allied forces
at Stetin and returned home to his family. He
married Helen Haviland (19 July 1917 - ) after April 1941 (NY Times
engaged April 1941). He married
Audrey W Palmer (45) of Manchester, Hartford, CT, in Madison, New
Haven, CT on 8 July 1961. On 5 Dec 1975, Denis G Strode-Jackson
divorced his fourth wife, Elizabeth (born Dec 1914, PA). It was her
third marriage. They married April 1974, and separated July 1975. Denis
Strode-Jackson and Helen Haviland had
two sons, Haviland Stephen Strode-Jackson (born 30 Jan 1943), graduated
from Sheboygan North HS in 1961, (of California in 2004), married
Sandra Jane _____; and Denis/Dennis Strode-Jackson Jr, graduated from
Sheboygan North HS in 1964, (of Wisconsin in 2004).
Ancestry
His father was Morton Strode Jackson ISO (6 March
1847, Off Isle, France (At Sea) - 1913). Lived at The Thicket,
Addlestone, Surrey.
His mother was Edith Rosine Martin (June 1861 quarter, Luton, Beds -
Aft 1891)
They married 23 July 1884, and had children:
- Myrtle Beatrice Strode Strode-Jackson (born 6 June 1885,
London). She was a novelist. Her most famous book was Tansy Taniard.
- Arnold Nugent Strode Jackson (SEE ABOVE)
His grandparents were:
- Lt-Gen George Jackson (1 July 1812, Doncatser, Yorks - 1881).
Married 9 Feb 1839, Kurnad, India.
- Phillis Sophia Strode (1823, London - March 1887, Sussex)
- William W Martin (1833/34, Reading, Berks - ). In 1881, Surveyor
of Taxes, lived at 20 Well, Walk, Hampstead, London.
- Louisa F _______ (1837/38, Geneva, Switzerland - Aft 1891)
Passport
This page
shows his 1947 passport. You can also view his 1963
passport.
You can read more about him at Wikipedia.
