Each year on 8 May, Victory in Europe VE Day invites us to pause and reflect on a deeply significant milestone of the 20th century – the end of World War II.
On this day in 1945, the Allies accepted Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender, bringing an end to nearly six years of devastating conflict across Europe.
VE Day is more than a historical milestone; it is a reminder of the resilience, unity and courage shown by millions who fought, served and sacrificed.
Marking VE Day, we are reminded that the freedoms and stability we enjoy today were secured through extraordinary acts of bravery.
For our firm, this moment of reflection carries particular significance. Several individuals connected to the firms that would ultimately form present‑day Jacksons served during the Second World War, demonstrating the same commitment, integrity and sense of duty that continue to shape our values today.
Service and sacrifice among Jacksons’ early professionals
There are several people associated with firms that would eventually become the present-day Jacksons who served during World War Two – Herbert Rowe, Eric Taylor, and two brothers, Clifford and Nathan Cohen.
War had already had a profound effect on the firm before World War II. There were three Jackson partners – Gilbert, Francis, and Basil. Basil died in 1920 at the age of 39 (from wounds suffered in World War One), Francis died in 1930, and Gilbert retired in 1931. That left Philip Monk as the sole partner until 1933 when Herbert Rowe joined the firm, becoming partner and the firm became Jacksons, Monk & Rowe.
When war broke out, Herbert Rowe served with distinction, ultimately attaining the rank of Colonel. His leadership in both military and professional life left a lasting imprint on the firm’s culture.
Eric Taylor began his Articles with Jacksons, Monk & Rowe in 1938, but as a member of the Territorial Army, he was called up even before the war officially began. After six years of service, he returned as a Major, having earned the Territorial Decoration.
During the war, he was billeted at Woodbrow Malton, the home of Gilbert Jackson’s father – an example of how deeply intertwined the firm’s people were with the local community. Eric returned to legal practice in 1947 and later became a partner.
The Cohen family’s involvement in local legal practice dates back to 1904, when Reuben Cohen began practising in Stockton on Tees. His sons, Clifford and Nathan, would both serve in the Second World War before their firm, Cohen Jackson, merged with Jacksons, Monk & Rowe in 1989.
Clifford Cohen, a barrister educated at Clifton College and Magdalen College, Cambridge, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1939.
His wartime experience was marked by extraordinary bravery. On 20 May 1940, while serving with the 1st Tyneside Scottish Battalion of the Black Watch in France, Clifford and his men faced overwhelming odds at Ficheux, armed only with basic weaponry – rifles and grenades against thanks – his “conduct and coolness” under fire led to his recommendation for the Military Cross.
Captured shortly afterwards, Clifford spent five years as a Prisoner of War, enduring additional hardship after being identified as Jewish by his captors. Liberated in 1945, he was formally awarded the Military Cross the following year.
Clifford went on to become a respected County Court Judge and a Deputy Lieutenant for Durham. He died in 1972 aged 66 and is remembered for his fairness and no‑nonsense approach.
Nathan Cohen also left for war service in 1939 as a member of the Territorial Army. His career took him far beyond the battlefield, serving with the Durham Light Infantry before joining the Colonial Service as a District Magistrate in Malaysia and later a Special Justice in Cyprus.
He retired from legal practice in 1945 and was made a Freeman of Stockton in 1991. Both brothers are laid to rest in Oxbridge Cemetery, Stockton on Tees.
Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future
The stories of Herbert Rowe, Eric Taylor, Clifford Cohen, and Nathan Cohen reflect the profound impact the war had on professionals across the region, and on the foundations of the firm we are today.
Their service exemplifies qualities that continue to guide Jacksons: courage, duty, resilience, and commitment to community.
As we commemorate VE Day, we honour not only the millions who served but also the individuals within our own History whose contributions shaped both our nation and our firm. Their legacy reminds us that the pursuit of justice, fairness, and public service is deeply rooted in sacrifice and shared purpose.
On this VE Day, we reflect with gratitude, remember with respect, and reaffirm our commitment to the values for which so many fought.
Lest we forget.
