Name
William Jenkins
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/11/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18678
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
L. E. 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin,
Preston Church Memorial, Preston
Pre War
William Jenkins was born in Preston in Hertfordshire in 1895, the son of William and Minnie Jenkins, and one of six children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in Church Road, Preston where his father was working as a Cowman on a Farm. They remained in Preston in 1911 and William was then working as a Farm Labourer.
His parents later lived at Hitchwood Cottages, Preston near Hitchin.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Bedford. was given the Regimental Number W.18678 and posted to the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was wounded in battle and died of his wounds aggravated by pneumonia on 20 November 1918.
He is buried in Plot 50, Row E, Grave 27 in the Etaples Cemetery, France. A private inscription on the headstone reads "Faithful until death".
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £18 10s and pay owing of £8 17s 9d. His mother received a pension of five shillings a week.
N.B. The name William Jenkins is listed twice on the Preston Memorial. It is not known whether this is an error, or if there were two named William Jenkins living in Preston who died in WW1.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, prestonherts.co.uk/ww1soldiers
