Donald Trevor Jenkins – Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy)

Chief Steward Donald Trevor Jenkins – Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy)

Birth and Family Background

Donald Trevor Jenkins was born in 1910 at Swansea. He was the son of Sidney Austin Jenkins and Ethel Daisy Trotman, who were married in 1909 at Swansea.

1911 Census

At the time of the 1911 Census, the Jenkins family were residing at 24 Brynmill Terrace, Swansea. The head of the household was Joseph Jenkins (49), born in Carmarthenshire, employed as a credit draper’s traveller, with his wife Sarah Jenkins (53). Their children present were Mary (25), a machinist; Ernest (19), a page boy, out of work; and Lillian (13) and Norah (9), both attending school. Also present were their son Sidney Jenkins (23), a credit draper’s traveller, his Gloucestershire-born wife Ethel (21), and their infant son Donald, aged ten months.

1921 Census

By the 1921 Census, the family were still living at 24 Brynmill Terrace, Swansea. Sidney Austin Jenkins (32) was now head of the household, employed as a credit draper’s traveller with Mathews & Davies, Drapers, Swansea. His wife Ethel Daisy (30) undertook household duties. Their children were Donald Trevor (11); Harold Herbert (9); Peggy (7), all attending school; Kenneth Austin (4); and Allan Hayden (1).

Marriage

In 1936, Donald Trevor Jenkins married Margaret Venn at Swansea. There is no record of Donald appearing in the 1939 Register.

Naval Service and Death

H.M.S. Manistee

Donald Trevor Jenkins served with the Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy), attaining the rank of Chief Steward. At the time of his death, he was serving aboard H.M.S. Manistee, an armed merchant cruiser employed on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic.

On 23^rd February 1941, Manistee had escorted Convoy OB-288 until it was dispersed at 21.00 hours south of Iceland. At 22.42 hours, the German submarine U-107 fired a spread of two torpedoes, one of which struck Manistee in the engine room. Shortly afterwards, at 22.56 hours, the Italian submarine Bianchi also attacked, firing a torpedo that was claimed to have struck the stern.

Despite severe damage, the ship remained afloat and attempted evasive manoeuvres. Further torpedo attacks by U-107 at 22.58 hours and 23.42 hours failed, and the submarine then conducted a prolonged pursuit of the damaged, zigzagging vessel through the night.

At 07.58 hours on 24^th February 1941, U-107 fired two further torpedoes. One struck Manistee in the stern, causing catastrophic damage and resulting in the ship sinking. HMS Churchill was ordered to search for survivors but none were found. The loss was total: the commander, 18 officers, and 122 ratings, including Chief Steward Donald Trevor Jenkins, were all killed.

Commemoration

British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Donald Trevor Jenkins’s death is recorded in the British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records. As he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Liverpool Naval Memorial, which honours members of the Merchant Navy and naval auxiliary services who lost their lives during the Second World War.