129703 Pnr C Jenner, ‘M’ Special Company, Special (Gas) Brigade, Royal Engineers

129703 Pnr C Jenner, ‘M’ Special Company, Special (Gas) Brigade, Royal Engineers

Charles Jenner was born in Mossside, Manchester. He enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment on 8 August 1914, at Tunbridge Wells (or 24 November 1915, according to another source). He served with Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment under the regimental number 1796, followed by the 71^st Provisional Battalion. He had two episodes of treatment at Fort Pitt, Chatham connected with his appendix and a following operation he had, one in July and August 1915 and one in October that year. It seems quite likely that this is what held him back from going overseas as an infantryman. He remained with one of these units (probably the 71^st Provisional Battalion) until 11 March 1916, when he was discharged upon transfer to the Royal Engineers, to join the Special Brigade, Royal Engineers (concerned with gas warfare) under the regimental number 129703. In total, by his own account, he served 1 year and 8 months in England and 3 years 2 months in France and Flanders.

Following his transfer to the RE, his medical history was taken on 4 July 1916. This noted his age as 23 years 3 months and his occupation as electrician. He stood 5’11” tall, and weighted approximately 156 lbs with a 35” chest measurement. His physical development was described as ‘good’.

Following posting overseas to the 3^rd Battalion, Special Brigade, on 16 March 1916 Pnr Jenner was posted on to ‘M’ Special Company. On the night of 3 June 1917 he suffered a crushed thumb whilst unloading gas projectors and base plates from a lorry at Rue Dormaire West Camp, Erquinghem and stacking the projectors onto a dump/pile (147116 Cpl T Beaumont and 12063 Cpl WL Rees being witnesses). He was exonerated from blame for the accident.  He was placed under the care of 2/2^nd Wessex Field Ambulance and then 3 Canadian General Hospital. Passing through 10 Convalescent Depot, RE Base Depot, Boulogne, and Special Brigade depot, he rejoined ‘M’ Company on 7 August 1917, probably seeing out the war with them.

Returning to the UK on 12 May 1919, he was transferred to the Army Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 10 June 1919. His postwar address was 35 Clifford Street, Brooks Bar, Manchester. Upon medical examination at Helfaut prior to discharge in May 1919 he was found to have 20% disabling Appendicitis. His pension application, however, was rejected.

He would have received his British War Medal and Victory Medal, being his full entitlement, some time in the early 1920s.