Summary
Letter from Australian Imperial Force to Mrs E. (Enid) A.B. Jenkin, regarding the death of her husband Sec. Lt William Jenkin, 7th Battalion A.I.F., dated 19 June 1919. The letter informs Mrs Jenkin that William was killed in action in France on 19 August 1916, during World War I.
William was born in Richmond and educated at Wesley College, where he had been a Senior Cadet. He obtained a diploma in geology at the University of Melbourne, and then found a position as an articled surveyor for the Department of Lands & Survey. He married young, to Enid, and they lived at 'Gracedale', in Elizabeth Street, Malvern. William enlised in June 1915, at the age of 22. He was placed in the 7th Battalion. He attended Officers' Training School at the AIF camp in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, and in March successfully applied for a commission, becoming a lieutenant. On 1 April he was sent overseas on the 'Suffolk', disembarking at Suez on 12 May. Just over a week later he was shipped to Marseille, France, and by early July he was at the front lines, serving with the 1st Entrenching Battalion. He survived only a matter of weeks before being fatally wounded at Purbricks Sap on the Bapaume Road. Corporal Dudley reported that he saw William 'blown up by his own bomb'.
William was buried where he fell, but the location of his body was later lost. A court of enquiry, held in June 1917, confirmed his death (he had initially been reported missing). He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Picardie, France. After his death Enid moved to Sandringham and re-married, becoming Mrs Lording. Her husband was Ernest Lording, who she sent to collect William's memorial plaque on her behalf in 1923. They lived in Pascoe Vale.
A copy of this letter is held with William's service file at the National Archives of Australia (unsigned).
Description of Content
LETTER. SEC. LT. WILLIAM JENKIN. 7TH BATTALION A.I.F., 19 JUNE 1919. KILLED IN ACTION, FRANCE. FIRST WORLD WAR.
Physical Description
Letter typewritten on single sheet of paper. AIF Base Records Office letterhead Signed at bottom right in black ink by the officer in charge of base records.
More Information
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Collection Names
Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection, Military Memorabilia Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mrs W. Lording, 15 Jul 1986
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Person Commemorated
2nd Lieutenant William Jenkin - Australian Imperial Force (AIF), 19 Jun 1919
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Individuals Identified
JENKIN, WILLIAM (SEC. LET.)
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Inscriptions
'AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE/ TELEPHONE:/ CENTRAL 4741/ In all communications regimental number/ rank, full name and unit of Soldier referred/ to, are to be stated./ KT./ BASE RECORDS OFFICE/ VICTORIA BARRACKS./ Melbourne 19th June, 1919./ Dear Madam,/ With reference to the report of the regrettable loss of your husband, the late 2nd Lieutenant W. Jenkin, 7th battalion, I am now in receipt of advice which shows that he was killed in action on/ 19.8.16 at Purbricks Sap on the Bapaume Road, France, and was buried/ where he was killed.' [letter continues]
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
209 mm (Width), 171 mm (Height)
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References
National Archives of Australia, JENKIN William, series B2455, barcode 7336532.
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Keywords
Militaria: Australian, Military Memorabilia, World War I, 1914-1918, Death & Mourning, Battle of the Somme (Somme Offensive), 1916
