JENKINS W J

JENKINS, William Joseph

William Joseph JENKINS

Regiment: 20 Bn. King’s Liverpool Regiment

Rank: Private

Number: 30144

Died: 30 July 1916

Aged: 24

Buried/Memorial: Thiepval Memorial

Address: 52 Panton Road, Hoole

“Widespread regret has been occasioned by the news of the death in action of Mr William Joseph Jenkins son of Chief inspector Jenkins of the Joint Railway co. Chester station and Mrs Jenkins of Glencoe Panton Road Hoole.

The young man was well known in the city and in Hoole being one who tried to lead a strenuous and upright life, which is a source of great consolation to his parents, brothers and sisters, in their hour of trial. He was associated with the work of All Saints parish church Hoole and was a teacher in the Sunday school. For three and a half years he was agent for Messrs Wymans at their bookstall at Bettws y Coed. Afterwards he was engaged as a civil clerk at the headquarters of Western Command at Chester. Enlisting in June 1915 he joined the Liverpool “Pals” and went abroad in December of last year coming unscathed through the battle for Trones Wood and in a letter written to his parents on July 25th he stated that he was well. On Sunday morning however official news came from the War Office announcing that the young soldier had been killed in action on July 30th. No further particulars have been received since. Deceased has a brother, a corporal in the Cheshire regiment, who recently has been appointed a drill instructor, and his other brother is employed on the railway. With the members of the family in their bereavement much sympathy is felt.”

The 1911 Census shows William as a 19-year-old Railway Book Stall clerk living at 15 Clare Avenue with father William, mother Annie, sister Gertrude and Catherine and brothers Thomas, Aston, Sephimus and Reginald. Also there was cousin Frederick Gibson.