Sydney Emlyn Jenkins
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Sydney was the son of the Reverend Rhys and Mary Jenkins. His father was minister at the High Street Baptist Church, Basford, and later at the Siloh Chapel, Tredegar, where the family lived at 2 Rawlinson Terrace, Tredegar, Monmouthshire (CWGC). His father died on 31 October 1934 aged 72 and his mother in January 1950 aged 84.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers 15th Bn attd 16th Bn According to a report of his death in the local paper, Sydney enlisted in the Monmouthshire Regiment in September 1914 and received his commission in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1917. He was killed in action on 22 April 1918 and is buried in Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme (grave. ref. II.K.3)
Personal inscription CWGC headstone: 'Il n'y a pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis' Nottingham Evening Post, 11 May 1918: ‘The Roll of Honour, Last night’s casualty list shows … Killed. Second-Lieut. SE Jenkins, son of the Rev. Rhys Jenkins of Tredegar, formerly rector of High-street Baptist Church, Old Basford, was killed in action on April 22nd. Deceased was born at Basford 23 years ago, and was in the teaching profession in Nottingham when war broke out. Enlisting in the Monmouthshire Regiment in September 1914, he served in the ranks for 15 months in France, and received his commission [Royal Welsh Fusiliers] in August last. Two of his brothers are serving in the navy [Haydn and Harold], and until recently a third was in the merchant service.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 11 May 1918: ‘Jenkins. Killed in action, April 22nd, Sec.-Lieut. Sydney Jenkins third son of the Rev and Mrs Rhys Jenkins, Tredegar, late of Old Radford. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottinghamshire Archives: Ref NC/BP/40/4, High Street Baptist Church, Basford, church minutes. Communion Service Sunday, May 5th 1918. Letter of condolence to be sent to Rev Rhys and Mrs Jenkins and family sympathising with them on the loss of their son 2nd Lieutenant Sydney E Jenkins who was killed in action on April 22nd 1918. Monmouth Guardian: 'Tredegar. Toll of the War. We regret to announce that the Rev. Rhys Jenkins, pastor of Siloh Baptist Church, has received the sad news that his son, Second-Lieutenant Sydney Emlyn Jenkins, was killed in action in France on April 22nd. Lieutenant Jenkins was a student at the University College, Nottingham, preparing for the B.Sc degree, when he joined the Monmouthshire Regiment in France for 15 months as a private, and received his commission in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Two other sons, Haydn and Harold, are serving in the Navy.' Inscription on family headstone: Jenkins Sydney Emlyn. Brother to William, Nellie, Frederick, Haydn, Charles, Dorothy, Edith and Rowland. Headstone: ‘In loving memory of Rev Rhys Jenkins (Siloh) beloved husband of Mary Jenkins of 2 Rawlinson Terrace, who died Oct. 31st 1934, aged 72 years. He was a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord’. Also of their beloved son 2nd Lieut. SE Jenkins, killed in action in France, April 23rd 1918. ‘So dearly loved, so sadly missed.’ Also the above Mary Jenkins died Jan (-) 1950 aged 84 years. ‘Resting where no shadows fall’ (www.nelson-ww1-memorial.org.uk) [Glamorgan] There is correspondence on the website 'www.tredegar.co.uk' referring to a poem written by Rev Rhys Jenkins in memory of his son. The accuracy of the text of 'My Son', which was written in Welsh (Rev Jenkins was bilingual), was being disputed but the first two lines, which were correct, were: 'Young and tender was my Sydney When he heard life's stern call'
