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​Donald Fisher Jackson came up to �������� in October 1906 from Kelvinside Academy.  He attained his BA in 1909 after gaining a third class in the relatively new Mechanical Sciences Tripos.

​Born in Hillhead, Glasgow: 30 October 1886

Fell in action: 11 October 1918

The Mechanical Sciences Tripos was established in 1894 and underwent its first revision of its regulations by Grace in May 1906 with its first examination under the regulation in May 1908.  Students, including Jackson, were to take eleven papers of three hours each, apart from the Drawing paper which was four hours in length.  The papers were as follows:

Group A: Applied Mechanics; Heat and Heat Engines; Theory of Structures and Strength of Materials; Electricity and Magnetism; Drawing; Essay.

Group B: Applied Mechanics; Theory of Structures and Strength of Materials; Heat and Heat Engines; Electricity and Magnetism; Engineering Chemistry.

Regulation 11 states “The papers in Group A shall be taken by all candidates and shall contain only easy questions such as are within the capacity of any candidate taking honours. The papers in Group B shall consist of questions of greater difficulty”.  In order to be admitted to take honours students had to be able to perform “simple laboratory tests”, “make and interpret drawings”, “adjust and use surveying instruments” amongst other things.  (The Cambridge University Calendar for the year 1906-07, pages 99-102.)

There is no mention of Jackson in the College Archives other than his admittance, examination record, address after he left and his obituary in the 1919 Annual Report.  His obituary says that his original commission was to the Lanarkshire Yeomanry before his was transferred to a Hussar Regiment and that “he was mentioned twice in despatches, wounded in Spring of 1918 and fell in action on 11 October 1918.” (Page 25)

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