Offered is a Memorial Plaque, wax card cover, condolence slip & copied photograph, attributed to Lance Corporal G. E. M. Jenkins, who served with the 4th Battalion, A.I.F., being killed in action Strazeele, France 17/4/1918.
Memorial Plaque named GEORGE EASTBOURNE MOLYNEAUX JENKINS with original wax card cover, condolence slip & copy photograph. Comes with copy service records, embarkation roll, Bn war diary October 1917 & April 1918 & Commonwealth war graves commission certificate.
George Eastbourne Molyneaux Jenkins was born in Sydney N.S.W in 1893. He enlisted in the A.I.F. on the 14/2/1916 after being previously rejected due to being under the height limits.
He was posted to the 21st reinforcements for the 4th Bn A.I.F. He embarked at Sydney 30/9/1916 on the H.M.A.T. A60 Arena and landed in Plymouth 19/11/196. After training with the 1st Training Bn he landed France 13/3/1917 and to B Coy 4th Bn on 20/3/1917. Wounded in action 4/10/1917 shrapnel wound to leg during attack at Broodseind Ridge. He was evacuated to England with his wound now classified as severe gunshot wound to left leg.
Returned to the 4th Bn 19/12/1917 and was killed in action on the 17/4/1918 when the Germans attacked at Strazeele.
From the war diary: “Enemy put down a terrific barrage at 8:30 bursting till 11am & attempted to attack but was easily driven off by Lewis Gun and rifle fire”.
Lance Corporal Jenkins' body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Villiers Bretonneux Memorial.
The attack at Broodseind Ridge 4/10/1917
The Germans were dug in on Broodseinde Ridge and its surrounds, and directly behind them was a huge battery of artillery—which the Australians were to feel the full force of before they attacked. Before dawn on October 4th, 1917, German concentrated artillery fire was directed on the Australian 1st and 2nd Divisions as they prepared to attack Broodseinde Ridge. The result was devastating. Almost 20% of the Australians waiting for orders to push forward became casualties. When their orders did come to advance, they were met by German troops who coincidentally were also ordered to push forward around the same time. At about 6:00 AM, in the middle of no man’s land, the 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions came face-to-face with a German infantry regiment which was closely followed by a German reserve division and the 4th Guard Division.
The initial clash of the combatants was quite severe. However, the Australians eventually overcame their opponents and as a result, many German troops were taken prisoner.
