Brian Henry Bentley Jenkins
A Private with 1/12th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment. Brian died on 7th of October 1916 at the age of 19.
Brian was born at Lowestoft on 17 February 1897, a son of Henry and Mary Hadfield Jenkins. Throughout Brian’s life his family lived at 2 Pier Terrace, Lowestoft.
Brian attended Roman Hill School and, from 15 September 1909 was a pupil at Lowestoft School of Science.
Brian joined the Army in January 1916. Records show that he was enlisted at London and that he joined the 12th Battalion London Regiment, service number 4532. Brian’s service number shows that he was attested in December 1915, before being ‘called up’ in January 1916. Initially he served with the 3/12th Battalion.
On 10 June 1916 Brian arrived in France to serve with the 1/12th Battalion London Regiment. It is likely that he joined the Battalion ‘in the field’ on 17 June 1916 with 25 other men who had all been posted from the 3/12th Battalion.
On 1 July 1916 the 1/12th Battalion were involved in the attack at Gommecourt, part of the Battle of the Somme. The Battalion’s casualties that day numbered 547 men.
On 5 October 1916 the Battalion relived the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers in trenches at Les Boeufs.
At 1.45 p.m. on 7 October 1916 the Battalion launched at attack on Dewdrop Trench. Brian was reported to have been wounded in the attack, and missing. By May 1917 it was concluded that he had been killed in action on 7 October 1916. The Battalion lost two officers and 98 men, including Brian, in the attack on Dewdrop Trench.
Some records show Brian’s service number as 471688. This is because the Territorial Force, including the 1/12th London Regiment, was renumbered in early 1917. Because Brian was still unaccounted for he was renumbered for administrative purposes, but he would never have actually known, or served under, his 1917 number.
Photograph of Brian Jenkins with two of his younger siblings. The other boy is Russell & their sister Muriel who marred a Dennis Kearney… later she was to work in the photographic business run by their younger brother Ford.
I am pretty certain that the Christmas photograph was taken in the flat above the photographic business when it was located in Pier Terrace before relocating north of the bridge many years later.
Russell was next in age after Brian, then Muriel before Ford CREDIT: Tim Jenkins
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"Coin"(?) that was sent to the families of those killed in action in WW1. Not actually sure what they were called. I think that the wooden frame / surround. is an "extra" maybe made by or the choice of the family........ I have seen them just plain and unmounted. It's approx 6ins diameter ( although I haven't measured it !)
The sketch is a small drawing made by Brian Jenkins from the back window at 2 Pier Terrace looking toward the west. The writing's on the back of the picture. My cousin has the original.
I also attach a B/W photograph showing Brian between his brother Russel & Sister Muriel , Christmas 1909. Photograph taken by their Father Harry Jenkins at 2 Pier Terrace. Credit: Tim Jenkins
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Damon Rogers response:
The bronze disk is called a Memorial Plaque - but they are often nick-named dead men's pennies.
These were not issued automatically to next of kin, instead the next of kin had to complete a specific form (Army Form W.5080) which showed precisely who the correct next of kin was (there were sometimes complexities - for example where the deceased soldiers parents wanted the plaque but, so did his wife).
The wooden surrounds were commercially available and come in a wide variety of designs.
They were issued free - but that was small compensation.
I understand that they were meant to be put out on display, which I guess is where the idea of the frames came in.
I believe there were over one million issued, not a small feat when you consider that each one has the name in relief, so, other than 'John Smiths' there were few opportunities for duplication during production. Also the name on the plaque is the name that the family stated was correct (from that Army Form) so sometimes you get abbreviated or 'pet' names.
A small number of plaques were awarded to the families of women who had died and they differ slightly by having the wording 'she died for . etc.'
Brian Jenkins
2
Pier Terrace
Lowestoft
United Kingdom
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