Adding soldiers to this blog involves some work, often repetitive. But more often than not an unexpected gem of history is illuminated. In this case it all started with a simple war diary entry for November 26, 1916: “Battalion pay and clothing parades. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital. 54145 Sgt. C.J. JACKSON posted to commission as Lieut. In 18thCanadian Bn.”
It turns out Sgt. C. John Jackson may have been a one of the American born men that fought with Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary, as a soldier of fortune or mercenary.
On, then Private, C. John Jackson’s attestation paper under item 10. Have you ever served in any Military Force? The answer is Gen. Villa’s 1st Batt.
C. John Jackson indicates he was born in Lagoena [Laguna], New Mexico in 1885. At this time no other information in connection with Jackson and Villa can be found.
Of interest is a number of British subjects served with Villa and later served in the Canadian and British army. Here are two: Caryl Ap Rhys Pryce who served with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, C.E.F. and a Captain Alfred W. Lewis.
For more information about foreign soldiers serving Pancho Villas please see this site.
Below is the complete image of Jackson’s attestation paper:
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History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
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