Albert Jenkins

Story:
Albert Jenkins was born in 1898 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was the son of Henry Jenkins, a shepherd, and Ellen Jenkins (née Coombs). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at 44 Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted at Shaftesbury and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 13022) and served in the Balkans from 9 Sep 1915 during which time he was in action at Gallipoli, Turkey, where he suffered shrapnel wounds and was sent back to the UK for hospitalization. On recovery he transferred to the 1st Battalion and served with them in France and Flanders . At the time of his death he held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was killed in action on 2nd July 1916 and buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, Authuille, Somme, France (grave id. II.B.9). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Further reading: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.