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Kings South Africa Medal (1902), with 2 clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, correctly hand engraved named Lieut. C. E. JENKINS. 13/ Hrs. with copies of newspaper articles, medal rolls, London Gazette, and Army Lists.

Major Charles Edward Jenkins was born on 6/3/1875 in Umbelea, India. His father was serving at the time in the Bengal Staff Corps, his grandfather was Major General Jenkins. He attended Harrow. There is probable links to the East India Company as Sir Richard Jenkins GCB JP DL FRS (18 February 1785 – 30 December 1853), who was Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury from 1830 to 1832 and from 1837 to 1841. He was also Chairman of the East India Company in 1839.

He was gazetted into the 3rd Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (Militia) 23/12/1896 as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was gazetted with a regular commission into the 13th Hussars in December 1899. The regiment arrived in South Africa in the beginning of December 1899 in time to be present at the battle of Colenso.

He was initially reported as ‘missing’ and released on the 21st August 1900 near Newcastle and then was classified as PoW on 22/08/1900 near Newcastle. He was hospitalized with enteric fever (Typhoid) late 1900. The regiment returned to Southampton in October 1902 where he resigned his commission on 17/12/1902.

He inherited Cruckton estate, near Shrewsbury about this time, and married Muriel Taylor daughter of Major General Taylor R.A. in 1904. He also re-joined the Militia about this time serving with the Shropshire Yeomanry, with whom he served with as a Major during the great war. The regiment sailed to Egypt on 4/3/1916. On arrival the brigade merged with South Wales Mounted Brigade and formed the 4th Dismounted Brigade. 2/3/1917 it merged with 1/1st Cheshire Yeomanry to form the 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Battalion, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and came under orders of 231st Brigade in 74th (Yeomanry) Division and was deployed to France in May 1918.

He survived the war and received his pilot’s license in 1934 with his occupation listed as retired Major. He died on 25/1/1949 at Hampshire, England.

Jenkins is also entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal. The British War and Victory Medals (1914 – 18) and the Territorial Forces War Medal. Please contact me if you know the location as I would like to reunite his medals.