Pte 30144 William Joseph Jenkins

• Age: 24
• From: Hoole, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Joseph Jenkins was born in Hoole, Chester on the 30th December 1891, the son of William Joseph Jenkins and his wife Annie (née Lightfoot). He was baptised in St. John the Baptist Church, Chester, on 10th February 1892. His parents, both born in Cheshire, married on the 1st November 1886 at St Michael’s, Coppenhall, where Michael was aged 25, father Robert Ridge and Annie was 22, father Ashton. William jnr was the third of eight children, and the eldest son. His father’s job as a railway inspector took the family to a number of postings around the county. He had older sisters Gertrude Jane and Catherine May, both born in Hoole, and a younger brother Thomas Henry, born in Rock Ferry.  Twins Ashton and Gladys Ann were born in Chester but sadly Gladys died at six months.  Septimus was born in Chester and Reginald in Hoole. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 65 Gloucester Street, Chester.

The 9 year old William lived with his siblings: Gertrude aged 13, May aged 10, Thomas 7, Ashton 4(all at school) and Septimus aged 1. Their father William senior is 39 and a railway inspector born in Chester, mother Annie was aged 36 born in Hartford. 

The 1911 Census shows the family had moved to 15 Clare Avenue, Hoole. 

The father William senior is aged 49 and is a railway inspector for GW and L&NW Joint Railway, he has been married to Annie, aged 46, for 24 years and they’ve had eight children, seven of whom have survived. Those seven children are all living at home. Gertrude, 20, is a dressmaker, Catherine May, 19, is an assistant in a chandlers shop, William aged 19 is a railway book stall clerk for Wymans & Co, Thomas, 17, is a railway porter, Ashton, 14, a solicitor’s office boy, Septimus, 11, and 6 year old Reginald are at school. 

William was educated at Christ Church School, Hoole, and was the manager of Wyman’s Bookshop, Betws-Y- Coed, before enlisting in June 1915. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and joined the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 30144.

He arrived in France on 20th December 1915, thus earning his three medals.

William was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 24, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

The 20th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were

lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

William's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

William's death was reported in the local press on 26th August 1916:

“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.” 

William’s name also appeared in the list of K.L.R. Killed published in the Liverpool Post & Mercury on 09th September 1916.  

 King’s (Liverpools) - Jenkins, 30144, W. J. (Hoole); 

His brother, Ashton, served overseas with the 13th Cheshire Reg., and survived the war.

William’s Army pay and a War Gratuity of £4 went to his mother, at 52 Panton Road, Hoole, who was awarded a gratuity in lieu of a pension. 

His father died on the 15th January 1921 at the age of 59. 

Cheshire Observer - Saturday 22 January 1921 

JENKINS - On 15th January 1921, at Chester Royal Infirmary, William Joseph Jenkins of 52 Panton Road, Hoole, Chester, aged 59 years. 

In 1939 his mother, 75, is living in Chester, at 3 Abbey Street, with daughter Gertrude, 51, who is the caretaker of the Cathedral Choir School.

His mother died at home on the 26th Sept 1951 aged 87. Her funeral was at Chester Cathedral. 

Cheshire Observer - Saturday 29 September 1951 

JENKINS - On 26th Sept., 1951, at 3. Abbey-street, Chester, Annie, beloved wife of the late William Joseph Jenkins, aged 87 years. - “At Rest.” 

William is commemorated on the following memorials - 

All Saints Church WW1 Board, Hoole

Hoole and Newton Memorial, Hoole

And on the family gravestone in Overleigh New Cemetery, Chester (inscription largely illegible).

We currently have no further information on William Joseph Jenkins, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.