Cyril Donald Thomas Jenkins
SHOCK, that’s the cause of death.
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| Cyril Donald Thomas Jenkins Oystermouth Cemetery |
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| Cyril Donald Thomas Jenkins Oystermouth Cemetery |
The inscription states that Cyril was the son of Charles and
Kate Jenkins and a Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh
Fusiliers. Cyril served in the Gallipoli Campaign, where he was wounded, before
being attached to the Royal Flying Corps. He died on 2nd October
1916 at the age of 20.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Cyril was residing at
Trebanos House, Pontardawe. Cyril, aged 5, was born in Llangafelach. His
parents are Charles Bevan Jenkins, aged 40, whose occupation is listed as
Solicitor, and his mother, Kate Edith Jenkins, aged 30. Cyril's siblings
include Marjorie Doris, 8; Hilda Beryl, 6; Mabel Evelyn, 3; and Kate Stuart, 1.
All family members are recorded as having been born in Llangafelach.
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| 1901 Census |
Additionally, present at the residence were Margaret
Bowville Morgan, 20, born in Marstow, Herefordshire, and Ethel Mary Adis, 19,
born in Briton Ferry, both employed as Governesses. Also employed at the
household was Elizabeth Jane Jones, 21, born in Morriston, serving as a
Servant.
A decade later, Cyril does not appear in the 1911 Census
records, however, his family is at Uplands House, Uplands.
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| Law Examination Records |
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| Royal Welsh Fusiliers |
The enlistment records have not survived from when Cyril
joined the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The 3rd
Battalion was a training unit that stayed in the United Kingdom throughout the
First World War. Several writers and poets, including Robert Graves, Siegfried
Sassoon, and Welsh poet David Thomas, served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Nevertheless, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers were actively
engaged in combat during the landing at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, from 6th
to 15th August 1915, where the regiment experienced difficulties. It
is possible that Cyril sustained his injuries during this operation.
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| The landing in Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, 7th August 1915; Sulva Bay attack 21st August 1915, 1915 Watercolour. |
The amphibious landing at Suvla Bay occurred on the Aegean coast of the Gallipoli peninsula and represented the British forces' final effort to break the stalemate of the Battle of Gallipoli. The operation commenced during the night of August 6th and was intended to be supported by a breakout from the ANZAC sector, located five miles to the south.
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| Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford |
The Battle of Gallipoli began in February 1915 and ended
with the Allied Forces' evacuation in January 1916.
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| Royal Flying Corps |
58 Squadron was established on 8th June 1916 in
Cramlington, Northumberland. Formed from a nucleus of the 36 Squadron, which
served as Home Defence, 58 Squadron was equipped with B.E.2c and B.E.2e
biplanes and initially functioned as an advanced training unit.
The squadron transitioned to F.E.2bs aircraft and undertook
night bombing operations in Dover in December 1917, in preparation for
deployment overseas. In January 1918, it embarked on its first operational
mission, successfully bombing an airfield at Rumbeke, Belgium, during the night
of 2nd and 3rd February 1918.
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| Avro 504A biplane |
On 2nd October 1916, Cyril, aged 20, was flying an Avro 504A biplane near Cramlington when it lost speed, nosedived, and crashed, resulting in his death.
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| Llais Llafur |
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| Cyril Donald Thomas Jenkins Death Certificate |
His death certificate lists Shock as the cause of death, and his body was repatriated to Swansea for burial. His funeral was published in Llais Llafur
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) record for
Cyril indicates that his parents were residing at Beryl House, Wells, Somerset.
This information is accurate, as the 1921 Census confirms that the family was
living at this address.
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| 1921 Census |
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