Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

"The Battle of Loos (25 September to 18 October 1915) was the major battle on the Western Front in 1915, surpassing in every respect all that had gone before in terms of numbers of men and materiel committed to battle. The preliminary bombardment was the most violent to date and the battle was charaterised by the committment of Regular and Territorial battalions on a large scale, in which the Territorials performed just as well as the Regulars. As the battles on the Western Front in 1915 increased in size and violence, so the casualties increased in proportion: Neuve Chapelle 12,000, Aubers Ridge/Festubert 29,000 , Loos 60,000. 1916 was to take the casualty cost to another level. Loos was intended as a minor role in support of French efforts around Arras but circumstances reduced the French effort. It marked the first use of poison gas by the British. Once the initial assualt had failed the battle continued in a series of actions mostly focused on the northern sector around the tactically important Hohenzollern Redoubt."

Detail :

A post on Great War Forum shows a conversation between Robert (Old Owl) and Jill Cozens (Great Neice):

"Captain Jenkins(or should I say Lieut. Jenkins) was wounded during a night attack by the 2nd Bn North'd. Fus. in the early hours of 21st Feb. 1915. Unfortunately the attack was a complete failure, resulting in the loss to the battalion of 6 men killed, 3 officers and 61 other ranks wounded and 40 other ranks missing. Details of his wound or wounds may be included in his officer's service papers, which should be at TNA. Captain Jenkins was killed during the struggle for the Hohenzollern Redoubt and "Big Willie" and "Little Willie" trenches during 1st -4th October,1915. The 2nd Bn N.F. alone suffered 5 officers killed with10 officers wounded and in other ranks 23 killed, 100 missing(believed killed) and 115 wounded. A total of 253 casualties. He is not mentioned by name in the history for this date, other than in the casualty roll. From the St George's Gazette(the regimental magazine) he receives a mention in the 2nd Bn Notes of 30/10/15: "Another officer whom we have to mourn is Capt. Jenkins, he proved himself a very efficient Company Commander. He had served with the Battalion for many years and was much loved by all ranks."

The Sheffield Daily Telegraph record his death in its 26th October, 1915 edition: "LATE CAPTAIN W.E. JENKINS - Captain W.E Jenkins, of the 2nd Northumberland Fusilier, who has been killed in France, was well-known in Sheffield. When his regiment was stationed at Hillsborough Barracks from 1911 to 1913 he was a colour-sergeant, and made many friends in the city. He received a commission about the time of the outbreak of war, and came from India with his regiment, going out to the front in January. He was wounded in the following month, and for some time did light duty at the regimental headquarters, near Newcastle returning to the fighting line early in July. He was killed a fortnight ago, in a desperate fight, in which Colonel Armstrong and the adjutant of the regiment also fell. Captain Jenkins was very popular with the officers and men alike, and his loss will be greatly regretted."

A further tribute appears on the 11th December 1915 in the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser by his brother: "THE LATE CAPTAIN W.E. JENKINS "Much Loved by All Ranks." [To the Editor] Sir: As I have had numerous enquiries from Trowbridge friends for particulars of my brother's death, I should be glad if you would publish the enclosed letter, which is a copy of the one received from Major Hardman Jones, of my brother's battalion. - Faithfully yours, F.BERTRAM JENKINS 11 Gt. Marlborough Street, London Dec.9th.

Dear Mr. Jenkins: I am only too glad to try and give you details of your brother's death. I was not present with the battalion at the time, so I am giving you details which I have managed to collect from N.C.O.'s and men who were with him. On October 2nd the battalion was in some trenches close to the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Very hard fighting was going on. the Germans were actually in a trench in the same line as our men. your brother had had two bullets through his cap, and one cut his right ear. The stretcher-bearers had placed some sticking plaster on his er, and about 11 a.m. he was personally throwing bombs at the Germans on the end of the trench occupied by his company. He had just instructed a man not to look over the top of the trench and so expose himself, when, hearing a lot of shouting, he himself looked out to see what was going on. He was immediately shot through the head. he was carried away from the exposed end of the trench, and died in about half an hour, and he never regained consciousness properly a few seconds after being hit. It was impossible to move his body from the trench at the time.

About 2.p.m. the King's Own Lancaster Regiment, 83rd Brigade (I am unable to find out the battalion) relieved the Regiment, and your brother's body was handed over to them. This fresh Regiment was in turn relieved by a Brigade of Guards (Irish and Coldstreams), and I cannot therefore find out for certain where or by whom your brother was buried. An effort was made to recover his body by the stretcher-bearers, but the O.C. of the Lancaster Regiment would not allow men up the trench because of the heavy fire then in progress. Corpl. Tudor, of the battalion, has just come and told me that your brother did speak some words directly he was hit. He handed over the company to Lieut. Fordham, and said, "Die fighting," after which he spoke no more. As regards the burial of his body, perhaps the O.C. of the Lancaster Regiment, 83rd Brigade, could give further information. I am sure that every effort was made by the battalion to recover his body, as he was much loved by all ranks. If I hear anything further I will write to you.

I need hardly say that your brother was a most gallant and excellent officer, and his death was a very great loss in every way. I personally had not the pleasure of serving very much with him. Major Pruddis, of the Regiment, who was once his Company Officer, has asked me especially to tell you how very sorry his is, and to offer you his sincerest sympathy. He has the highest opinion of your brother, which I know is shared by every officer and man of the Regiment. Captain Allan, the quartermaster, tells me that he has forwarded all his effects to you, and I hope they have reached you safely.

I think Leuit. Fordham (also wounded), Northumberland Fusiliers (c/o Messrs. Cox & Co., 16, Charing Cross), might also give you more information. Let me know if I can be of any more assistance to you. Yours truly, A.C. HARDMAN JONES (Major Commander, 2nd Battn)."

Incidentally, William's brother, Francis, was on the Lusitania 7th May 1915 when it was torpedoed (he survived). Had he not, he would not have been able to publish the letter above.

Masonic :

William is listed as a Colour Sergeant resident, or based in Fleetwood in 1913 prior to the war. The annotation in the contribution record shows that he was "Killed in action Oct/15."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley
• Family : Jill Cozens