Description

2ND LIFE GUARDS DIED 1916 WW1 MEDALS 6979 F JENKINS WIA 1914 13TH HUSSARS

Offered is a British War and Victory Medal (1914 – 18), both impressed named 6979 PTE. F. JENKINS. 13- HRS. Court mounted for wear and comes with copies of service papers, M.I.C., medal roll, newspaper article and pension cards.

Frederick Jenkins was a reservist who was recalled to the colours for WW1 and served in France with the 2nd Life Guards in October 1914 until wounded. He would be entitled to a 1914 Star and clasp, however his M.I.C. records that he served with the 13th Hussars and does not record his 1914 Star as being issued. Ultimately dying of war related disease 1916, he has no Commonwealth War Grave

Frederick Jenkins was born about October 1887, in Aston, Warwickshire. A cycle turner by trade, he enlisted into the 11th Hussars on 6/5/1904 with the Service No 5381. He served with them until transferring to the 13th Hussars on 5/9/1906, serving with the regiment in India 5/9/06 – 20/2/1912. He returned to England to transferring to the Reserve 19/4/1912.

At some stage he received the new Service No 6979.

He was mobilised at for active service 5/8/1914, posted to the 12th Reserve Regiment 22/8/1914 and to the 2nd Life guards on 30/8/1914.

The 2nd Life Guards were quickly brought up to strength with Lancer Reservist and deployed to France as part of the 7th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division. The war diary makes for interesting reading with the author noting the ‘12 year men who had been recalled frequently offered a bad example to the younger men’. Neither the men nor the young officers realised the seriousness side of war. My regiment consists of 13 different cavalry regiments, 180 of my own men and 374 of 12 other regiments.

Jenkins landed in France with the regiment serving 6/10/1914 – 23/10/1914. On the 19th the regiment was the advance guard and moved to the crossroads at Hooglede – Staden – Roulers (Near Passendale). At that location it came under fire from German infantry of whom it quickly became apparent were in strength and could not be dislodged. The regiment suffered several casualties including Jenkins who suffered a gun shot wound to his hand (recorded as wounded at Moorslede).

He was evacuated to England 24/10/1914 and on recovering from his wounds was seconded to the Siddeley – Deasey munition works. He was admitted to Wisley sanitorium 30/3/1916 with Tubercle of the lung (T.B.) which led to his medical discharge 21/5/1916 and subsequent death 2/8/1916. Whilst his medical records state that this illness was a result of military service & work in munitions factory, he has no Commonwealth War Grave.