Cyril Donald Thomas Jenkins

 SHOCK that’s the cause of death.

Situated at the bottom of the steps at Oystermouth Cemetery, is the grave of Cyril Donald Thomas Jenkins.  Today, we see that the cross is lying at the foot of the grave, but it would have been standing on the top of the grave.  So, who is Cyril?


The inscription reads that Cyril was the son of Charles and Kate Jenkins, he was a Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.  Cyril had served through the Gallipoli Campaign where he was wounded and then he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps.  Fell in the service of King and Country 2 October 1916 Aged 20 Years.

We first find Cyril, at the time of the 1901 Census, residing at Trebanos House, Pontardawe.  Cyril aged 5 born at Llangafelach.  His parents are the, Charles Bevan Jenkins, aged 40 and his occupation is listed as Solicitor and mother Kate Edith Jenkins, aged 30.  Cyril’s siblings are Marjorie Doris, 8; Hilda Beryl, 6; Mabel Evelyn, 3 and Kate Stuart, 1.  All are listed to have been born at Llangafelch.  Also present at the house are Margaret Bowville Morgan, 20, born Marstow Herefordshire and Ethel Mary Adis, 19, born Briton Ferry.  Both girls are employed as Governess, also 21-year-old Elizabeth Jane Jones, born Morriston who is employed as a Servant.

1901 Census
Trebanos House, Pontardawe

A decade later, Cyril isn’t listed at the time of the 1911 Census, with the family who are reading at Uplands House, Uplands.

Law Examination
We do know that Cyril lived here during 914, 18-year-old Cyril has passed his Law Examination.  So, was he follow his father’s line as a Solicitor?

Royal Welsh Fusiliers

The enlistment records haven’t survived as when Cyril enlisted the join the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.  Interestingly, the 3rd Battalion, was a training unit which remained in the United Kingdom during the duration of the First World War.  Several writers and poets, including Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon and Welsh poet, David Thomas served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers

However, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers did see action where the regiment failed at Landing at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, 6th – 15th August 1915. Was it here that Cyril was injured? 

The Landing in Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915;
Sulva Bay attack 21 August 1915, 1915
Watercolour - Norman Wilkinson (1878 - 1971)
Credit - Artnet.com
The Landing at Sulva Bay, was the amphibious landing at Suvla, on the Aegean coast, on the Gallipoli peninsula.  This was the final attempt by the British to break the deadlock of the Battle of Gallipoli.  The landing commenced during the night of the 6th August, and was to have been supported by a breakout from the ANZAC sector, five miles south.

 Lieutenant-General
Sir Frederick Stopford
However, initially the landing was successful against only light opposition, the landing at Sulva was mismanaged from the outset, and quickly reached the same stalemate conditions.  By the 15th, the British Commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford, was dismissed. 

The Battle of Gallipoli, started February 1915, and lasted until the following January, with the Evacuation of the Allied Forces

Royal Flying Corps
Following this Cyril, joined the Royal Flying Corps and enlisted with the 58 Squadron as a pupil pilot.

Cramlington,
Northumberland
58 Squadron was formed 8th June 1916, Cramlington, Northumberland.  It was formed following a nucleus spilt from the 36 Squadron, who served as a Home Defenses.  The 58 were equipped with B.E.2c and B.E.2e biplanes and served initially as an advanced training unit.

The squadron convert to F.E.2bs and flew in night bombing roles at Dover, December 1917 and prepared for deployment for overseas.  January 1918, it undertook its first operational mission bombing an airfield at Rumbeke, Belgium during the night of 2nd and 3rd February 1918.

Avro 504A biplane
2nd October 1916, Cyril, was flying an Avro 504A biplane, around the Cramlington area, when it lost speed and in turn and nosedived, and crashed.  Cyril was killed aged 20.





Llais Llafur
7th October 1916

His death certificate, states that the cause of death was Shock.  His body was repatriated back home to Swansea for burial.


The CWGC record for Cyril states that his parents are residing at Beryl House, Wells, Somerset.  This is correct at the by the time of the 1921 Census, the family living at this address. 

1921 Census
Beryl House, Wells, Somerset


 

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