John Percival Jeans

Story:
John Percival Jeans was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 14 May 1892 the son of John Jeans and Emily Jeans (nee Hopkins).  He lived his early life at Ponsonby Farm, Cann, (where his father was a Farmer), and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until by 1911 he had moved to 7 Herberton Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, living with his sister and working as a Bank Clerk with the Wells and Dorset Bank.  He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service becoming a Corporal (Service No. 6542).  He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 1 Jun 1917 (later the Royal Air Force) and served in France and Flanders where he sustained an injury to his foot.   He later served in India mainly as a Motor Cyclist.  On 8 Aug 1918 he became an Cadet Flight Officer.  He was discharged on 12 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He had married Dorothy Alice Fone at Crewkerne, Somerset, on 9 Mar 1916 but this union ended in divorce on 17 Sep 1919.  He went on to remarry Dorothy May Bishopp on 3 Nov 1920 at Bournemouth, Hampshire.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 13 Chichester Gardens, Ilford, Essex, working as a Bank Manager.  He died on 14 Jan 1945 in Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Hampshire.   His brother, Victor Leopold Jeans, also served with the Royal Engineers.