Dates:
War Service:
Private Leonard Jenkins, “D” Company, 1st/23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment, was killed in action on the 5th April 1918, aged 38. He enlisted into the London Regiment on the 9th December 1915, but didn’t arrive in France until the 13th December 1917. He was reported as missing on the 5th April 1918 and initially the family received intimation that he had been taken as a prisoner of war. However it was confirmed later that he had been killed in action.
The battalion diary states that on the morning of the 5th April 1918 they were at Aveluy Wood and that: “D Coy, on left of front line attacked by overwhelming numbers and surrounded. Survivors state that the Coy met the enemy with rifles and Lewis guns but were unable to prevent him getting their rear”. By the end of the day the battalion strength was down to five officers and 150 other ranks.
He is buried and remembered in Martinsart British Cemetery, France.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the WW1 Roll of Honour in St Andrew's Church, Catford.
Details:
He was the son of John and Elizabeth Jenkins and the husband of Daisy Jenkins of 24 Birkhall Road, Catford. He was the brother of Herbert, Lillian and Evelyn Jenkins of the same address. He and Daisy married in 1909 in Medway, Kent and they had two children – Arthur (b. 1909) and Leslie (b. 1915); prior to the war he was employed as a stationer’s clerk.
Contributed By: Kevin Loughnane
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