John Brian Blewitt Jenkins – Welch Regiment, 2/5th Battalion

Private John Brian Blewitt Jenkins – Welch Regiment, 2/5^th Battalion

John Brian Blewitt Jenkins

Private John Brian Blewitt Jenkins, who died following an illness on 7^th February 1940, is recognised as the first Second World War burial at Oystermouth Cemetery. His grave marks the beginning of a new chapter in the cemetery’s wartime history and stands as a poignant reminder of the many young men from Swansea and South Wales who would go on to serve and sacrifice their lives during the conflict.

John served with the Welch Regiment (2/5^th Battalion), a Territorial Army formation with deep roots in South Wales. The Welch Regiment, one of Wales’s oldest and most distinguished infantry regiments, traced its origins to 1719 and maintained enduring ties to Swansea, Glamorgan, and the wider Welsh community. The regiment’s motto, “Gwell Angau na Chywilydd” — “Better Death than Dishonour” — captured the proud and steadfast spirit of those who served within its ranks.

The 2/5^th Battalion was established in 1939 as a duplicate of the 5^th (Territorial) Battalion, part of the British Army’s rapid expansion during the tense months preceding the war. Initially tasked with home defence and training duties, the battalion was stationed across South and West Wales, preparing for eventual overseas service. Training was often carried out in difficult conditions, with men enduring harsh winter weather, crowded accommodation, and the spread of illness within temporary camps.

It was during this period of mobilisation that Private Jenkins fell ill, leading to his untimely death in February 1940, only a few months after the outbreak of the war. His burial at Oystermouth Cemetery represents one of the earliest wartime losses sustained by the battalion and serves as a lasting symbol of dedication and sacrifice in the early days of Britain’s wartime effort.

Harold Blewitt-Jenkins and Mabel Nott
marriage certificate
Clyne Chapel

John was the son of Harold Blewitt-Jenkins and Mabel Nott, who were married in 1913 at Clynne Chapel, Oystermouth. The family belonged to the professional middle class of Swansea, with Harold employed in property and land management. John was born in 1916, in the years following the First World War, yet his name does not appear in the 1921 Census, creating some uncertainty about his early life and residence.

1921 Census

1921 Census

In the 1921 Census, Harold and Mabel Blewitt-Jenkins are recorded as residing at 45 Sketty Road, both aged 32 years. Harold’s occupation is listed as Estate Agent and Surveyor of J. Blewitt Jenkins & Sons, a respected Swansea firm of land and estate agents. The company, based at 4 College Street, regularly advertised from the early 1910s to the 1920s, handling property sales, lettings, and valuations throughout the Swansea district. Its frequent appearances in local newspapers and trade directories indicate that it was a well-established family business, serving both private clients and local commercial interests.
Also present in the household were Minnie Shipway (aged 50), a monthly nurse employed by the Brunswick Nursing Home, and Mary Agnes Stock (aged 31), a domestic servant.

1921 Census

At the time of the 1921 Census, John, aged 5 years, was residing with his grandmother, Martha Nott, at South Croft, Caswell Road, Newton.
Martha Nott, born in Neath, was 69 years old. Also present in the household were her two daughters: Edith Sarah Nott, aged 42, who was employed as a Secretary, and Amy Nott, aged 39, who undertook the household duties. This arrangement suggests a close maternal family connection during John’s early years, with the Nott household providing a stable and nurturing environment in Newton

1939 Register

1939 Register

By the time of the 1939 Register, Harold and Mabel were living at 53 Glanmor Park Road, another respectable address in Swansea. Harold’s occupation is recorded as Chartered Surveyor, reflecting his continued success and professional stability. Yet once again, John’s name does not appear alongside his parents, suggesting he may already have been in military service or stationed away from home as part of the Welch Regiment’s early mobilisation.

South Wales Evening Post

South Wales Evening Post

The only surviving contemporary record of John’s life and passing appears in an article published in the South Wales Evening Post, which provides a brief notice of his death and burial. Newspaper tributes of this kind were often the sole public acknowledgment of a soldier’s death during the early months of the war, prior to the establishment of formal Commonwealth War Graves records.

John Brian Blewitt Jenkins
Oystermouth Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Today, Private Jenkins’s grave at Oystermouth Cemetery stands as a quiet but enduring testament to his service, sacrifice, and local legacy. As the first Second World War burial there, his resting place marks both a personal tragedy and a historical milestone, linking the community of Swansea to the broader story of the 1939–1945 conflict.

His parents, Harold and Mabel Blewitt-Jenkins, remained in Swansea throughout the war years. Their lives, like those of so many families of their generation, were indelibly shaped by duty, loss, and remembrance.