George John Jenkins

Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial

Regiment: Royal Navy

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Able seaman D/JX 57942

Parents: George John and Mary Ann Jenkins

Marital status: Married

Home address: 67 High Street, Kingswood, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Sailor

Date of birth: 26/02/1901

Place of birth: Montpelier, Bristol

Date of death: 26/03/1942

Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea. Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Not commemorated on a local memorial.

Age: 41

Further information:

George was born in Montpelier Bristol, the son of a gardener and the youngest child of five children with three sisters and a brother. George was working as a baker's assistant when he married Gladys Annie Cottle a former servant in 1928. He enlisted in the Navy the following year and served on ships in both peacetime and wartime. His first ship was the Vivid l and his last HMS Jaguar a J-Class Destroyer. On the day of his death, the Jaguar was escorting the Slavol, a Royal Field Artillery oiler carrying supplies of oil for Tobruk. At 02.27 hours on 26 March 1942 Jaguar was hit by two torpedoes from U-boat U-652 northeast of Sidi Barrani, Egypt. The torpedoes set the ship on fire and caused her to sink in a short time. The commander, two officers and 190 ratings including George, were lost and eight officers plus 45 ratings were rescued and taken to Mersa Matruh, Egypt. The Slavol herself was sunk two hours later by the same U-boat.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?420
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1473.html