Thomas William Percy Jenks

Royal Field Artillery

Personal Details

Born: 26 February 1892 in Grinshill, near Wem, Shropshire and baptised 3 April 1892 in Grinshill Parish Church. He was known as Percy.

Family: He was the second of five children born to Edwin Jenks, a stone sawyer and his wife Emma. He married Alice Savage in 1915 in Bucklow, Cheshire. The couple had a daughter, Dorothy A, born in 1921 in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Residence: At the time of his baptism in 1892, he and his family were living in Grinshill. By 1901 they had moved to Albert Place, Mill Fields, Wellington, Shropshire. In 1911 the address given for him and his family on the census was 19 Egerton Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire.  When he enlisted in 1915 his address was 4 Pepper Street, Whitchurch. In 1919 and now married, he and his wife were living at 57 Egerton Road, Whitchurch. This continued to be his home until his death in 1924.

Employment: In 1911 his occupation was a butcher`s apprentice. He gave this as his job on his enlistment in 1915, however in 1915 he also seemed to have worked for several months as a labourer for the London and North Western Railway Company.

Died: 2 December 1924 in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Military Details

Regiment: Royal Field Artillery (previously Shropshire Yeomanry)

Rank: Gunner

Service Number: 105506 (previously 1983)

Date of Enlistment: 29 September 1914

Date of Discharge: 16 February 1919  (previously 19 February 1915)

Reason for Discharge: Not known (previously discharged in 1915 as permanently unfit)

Other Information: His brother, Edwin Charles Jenks, also served in WW1. Percy was discharged as medically unfit in 1915 but re-enlisted in a different regiment.

Medals and Awards

Percy was awarded the Campaign Medals (British War medal and Victory medal)

Campaign Medals

Great War History Hub Whitchurch Shropshire Medals Front Image

The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.

The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.


 


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