My thanks go to David Jenkins who – rather longer ago than I am prepared to admit – shared the story of his grandfather, along with some fascinating photos.
Samuel Jenkins enlisted in the 6th (Service Battalion), Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 1 September 1914, the Battalion having been raised in Omagh during the previous month. Samuel’s service with The Skins is a little hazy, but we know he sailed from Liverpool in early July with the rest of 10th (Irish) Division, with his overseas service commencing with his disembarkation on 11 July 1915, probably on Lemnos. One (!) of his National Archive medal index cards give this date with the note ‘(2B) Balkans’, meaning ‘Balkan Theatre – Gallipoli and Aegean Islands’. This made him eligible for the 1914/15 Star. Four weeks later, the Division landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.
The photos David has of his grandfather show him in hospital, either on Malta or in Alexandria. It’s known from his pension record that Samuel caught malaria so, for that reason and the presence of slouch hats in the photos, I am going to claim Samuel for the BSF!
With no characteristic blue hospital uniforms evident, it’s only the presence of the nurse and what is possibly a red hospital tie worn by the man in the back row that tells us this is a hospital scene. Sun helmets were not available to the BSF until July 1916 so, until then, they had to make do with slouch hats which – if they are from Salonika – puts this photo in the summer of 1916. Whenever it is, it looks hot! Samuel is sitting on the front row on the far left.
This second hospital photo shows Samuel standing by the door, third from the left. The man sitting in front of him appears to be wearing a single, round identification disc (also in the above photo) which were issued in pairs from August 1916 – but it could just be a medallion!
This hospital stay did not see Samuel return to good health and he was medically evacuated home, spending time in the Princess Patricia Hospital in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. In late 1917 he was transferred to the Labour Corps and returned to service, this time on the Western Front. With his health still not good, he was discharged from the army in February 1919 as ‘no longer physically fit for active service’ and received the Silver War Badge.
The story does not end there. Amazingly, Samuel was not deterred by his experiences and reenlisted for the Second World War, serving in 1940 with the BEF in France and then the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment on home defence duties. On 18 July 1941 he fell down a flight of stone steps, banging his head and suffering concussion. Sadly, he died the following morning in Tonbridge Hospital.
Finally, David provided this splendid montage to commemorate the eight Jenkins brothers who served in the Great War; his grandfather, Samuel, is standing in the middle.
Find out more:
- The Long, Long Trail – Medal Roll theatre codes
- The Long, Long Trail – the Silver War Badge
- The Long, Long Trail – 10th (Irish) Division
- National Army Museum – Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
- Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Museum
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Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 
I have just seen this. Not long ago, with help from a great War Forum member, and of Andy the web edtor, I was able to upload a copy of a short history of the 6th Iniskillings to our documents, and to arrange alos for it to be added to the Internet Archive. David if he isn’t a member might like to hear about it.
Thanks Keith, that’s really useful. I will let David know.