yeovil at War
bert jennings
An 18-year old lad, killed within weeks of arriving at the front
Bert Jennings was born in Yeovil in the autumn of 1899, the son of leather parer Robert Jennings and his glove machinist wife, Sarah. In the 1901 census Robert and Sarah were listed at 102 Park Street with their children Fred aged 13, William aged 11, Florrie aged 10, Sidney aged 8, Lilly aged 4 and one-year old Bertie. In the 1911 census the family were at the same address, 11-year old Bert was a scholar and he now had a younger brother Albert.
Bert
Jennings
enlisted at
Yeovil in
October 1917,
when he turned
18, and became
Private Jennings
(Service No
35772) of the 2nd
Battalion,
Wiltshire
Regiment - seen
at the left.
In February the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment were out of the line preparing for a German offensive that was known to take place sometime in March. In the middle of March they took over redoubts west of St Quentin.
On the 21st March the German attack started and the battalion was very quickly out flanked and were soon completely surrounded.
The battalion lost 22 officers and 600 other ranks. The battalion’s battlefield reinforcements were themselves engaged in a desperate rearguard action, not knowing what happened to their comrades.
The 2nd
Battalion joined
a composite
battalion. By
April the
battalion had
been reformed
and they were
again fighting
the Germans near
Ypres.
After his basic
training, Bert
Jennings joined
his regiment at
the front on 2
April 1918.
Sadly, Bert was
killed
in action on 31
May 1918 and
initially
reported as
missing. He was
aged just 18.
On 26 July 1918 the Western Gazette reported "Lance-Corporal (sic) B Jennings, Wilts Regiment, son of Mr S (sic) Jennings, of 102 Park Street, has been missing since May 31st. He joined up when 18 years of age last October and went to France on Easter Tuesday. He was formerly a patrol leader in the Boy Scouts and a member of the Yeovil Men’s V.A.D.
The Western Gazette reported on 20 September 1918 "Private Bert Jennings, Wilts Regiment, whose home is 102 Park Street, and who has been reported missing for some time past, is now officially reported as having been killed in action or died of wounds on or about 31st May. The late Corporal (sic) Jennings was an active worker with the Yeovil Parish Church Branch of the Church Army, and also an assistant scoutmaster. On Sunday evening there was a memorial service in the Church Army Mission Hall, conducted by “Captain” Monkhouse, who gave an address referring to Corporal Jennings’ work for the mission, and expressed sympathy with his parents."
Bert Jennings was interred at Chambrecy British Cemetery, Marne, France, Grave I.E.1, and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial in the Borough.
gallery
Bert Jennings
1899 - 1918
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate in memory of Bert Jennings.
Bert Jennings' headstone.
