William JENKINS
Per his military service record (Depot), William Jenkins was born at Bendigo, Victoria. [1] He gave his age as 25 years and 7 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 3 inches tall, weight 119 lbs., with a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
His next of kin was listed on his Attestation Paper as his mother, Mrs H. Jenkins, Bendigo, Victoria.
‘Jenkins, W.’ was listed in the Wellington Times as one of the men who joined the Coo-ees at Wellington.[2]
He completed his medical examination on 16th October 1915 at Wellington, and was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas when the Coo-ees were at Mumbil on 19th October 1915.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 17th November 1915 Private Jenkins went before a medical board at Liverpool Camp, where he was diagnosed to have ‘insufficient chest measurement’, and unfit for active service.
On 21st November 1915 Private Jenkins was charged with being absent without leave. He was fined 1 days pay.
Private Jenkins was discharged from the A.I.F. medically unfit on 29th November 1915.
William Jenkins re-enlisted in the A.I.F. at Wagga Wagga N.S.W. on 28th October 1918, where he was attested, and completed a medical examination. He stated he had two weeks previous military experience at Liverpool Camp Sydney on this new Attestation Paper.[3]
However, when he went before a medical board held at Victoria Barracks in Sydney the next day on 29th October 1918, he was again found unfit for active service, and discharged due to ‘deficient chest expansion’.
[1] NAA: B2455, JENKINS WILLIAM
[2] HITCHEN’S COO-EES. (1915, October 18). Wellington Times (NSW : 1899 – 1954), p. 3. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143388424
[3] NAA: B2455, JENKINS WILLIAM
1915 Coo-ee March 