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 |
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 |
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford |
The Battle
of Gallipoli, started February 1915, and lasted until the following January,
with the Evacuation of the Allied Forces
Royal Flying Corps |
Cramlington, Northumberland |
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 |
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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