F. W. David Jackson

It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of my friend and mentor David Jackson.
He was always generous with his time and his knowledge and I shall miss our Zulu discussions. Of recent years these were limited to letters and phone calls but were none the less enlightening.
He had so much stored away in his head and of course he began his researches so long ago that he met the grandchildren of those involved in the AZW and in at least one case, the nephew.
We have been working together on an article which I shall finish and publish posthumously in one of the Studies volumes.
His Hill of the Sphinx was definitive and came to replace Morris's work as far as Isandhlwana was concerned. It influenced Knight and has still not been surpassed in its clarity, logical approach and sequencing of events (although David would have been the first to admit that there's no such thing as perfection and his work would in time be improved and supplanted).
He was also a mine of information on the Russian Intervention, not least because his father had fought in it, and all things Russian which language he spoke fluently.
I could write lots more about him but this is not the time nor perhaps the place. Suffice it to say that the AZW world has truly lost 'a great'. It was a privilege to know and to have worked with him.

Very sad news, Hill of the Sphinx was one of the first books I acquired when I decided to take a more serious study of the AZW. Succinct with no guesswork, just a solid appraisal of facts.

Condolences to his family.

What sad news.

David was so happy to share his knowledge and I count myself fortunate to have spent time in his company.

As well as the interests mentioned above by Julian, David’s knowledge also extended to the American West.

Go well David, descendant of The Wallace.

Quite so john. He applied Graham's model used for analysing Little Big Horn to Isandhlwana.

Very sad news, i first met David on the 1979 zulu war centenery Tour, our tour was seperate to the Royal Regiment of Wales, visiting many sites on the Cape Frontier, aswell as the obvious Zulu War ones.
His knowledge will be sadly missed by us all.

It is indeed a sad day ...the AZW Community has lost one of it's leading lights .
R.I.P. David J.
90th

Mr David Jackson will continue to accompany us on a daily basis through his masterful work.
With my deep respect.
Frédéric

Very sad news! Hill of the Sphinx was definitely masterful in its scope and research.
perhaps ADMIN could put a memorial on the home page with a photograph of F W D Jackson
Ciroferrara

Extremely sad news indeed. Julian through our own conversations I know the close personel relationship you had with David and i offer my condolences.
Frank

Another sad lost. RIP