James Edward Jenkins

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 09/12/2016 - 09:25

First Name:

James

Middle Name:

Edward

Last Name:

Jenkins

Date of Birth:

Sunday, January 12, 1896

Mother's Name:

Ellen Jenkins nee Hilton

Father's Name:

James Jenkins

Date Enlisted:

Monday, March 20, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

19th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, November 3, 1969

Place of Death:

Concord, N.S.W.

Details:

James Jenkins (Service No 6376) was born in Penrith, N.S.W.

At enlistment james was single, 19 years old, worked as a labourer and lived in Wollongong, N.S.W. He had served 3 years in the Cadets and 1 year with 37th infantry Militia and was very keen to serve. He was posted to 20th reinforcements, 13th battalion but for some reason he stowed away on HMAT A14 Euripides when it sailed on 9th September 1916. He was re-attested at sea on 10th September and posted to 19th Battalion.

James arrived in England on 26th October 1916, then France on 28th December 1916, and finally joined 19th Battalion on 5th February 1917.

James saw service on the Western Front with 19thBbattalion until 3rd May 1917 when he was wounded in action and sent to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his right foot.

He returned to his unit on 28th March 1918 but was wounded a second time a few days later on 8th April. He was again evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left arm.

James was returned to Australia in February 1919 and discharged on 11th May 1919.

In 1925 he married Elsie Barth in Wollongong and together they raised a family.

James died at Concord in 1969.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, JENKINS JAMES