Person

Stanley Jennings was born in Hinckley, Leicester in 1889. His father William, was born around 1861, and worked as a warehouse laborer and was also from Hinckley. His mother, Fanny Evritt, was born around 1859 and she married William in October 1882.

His parents lived at 27 Manor Road, Hinckley in 1891 and had four children there; Annie, Ethel, Lilian and, finally, Stanley. The family had moved to 20 Derby Road in 1901, and then in 1911 they moved to 57 Derby Road. Stanley worked a hosiery counterman during this time. Three years later, in September, Stanley married Alice Esther Duckett, she was the daughter of a carpenter called Reuben and a woman named Anne; her family lived at 167 London Road, Hinckley.

The couple had two children, one girl; Marjorie (born 31 March 1915), and a boy Gordon Stanley (born 3 December 1916). Stanley was not present for the birth of his son as in February of 1916 he joined the army. It appears that this was a voluntary decision as the extension to the Military Service Act had not been past at the time. Stanley’s military records describes that he was 5 feet 9 inches tall with 35 3/4 inch chest.

He initially served with the Leicester Regiment until he was transferred the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI). Just over a year later the 15 DLI was posted to Arras, where he would fall, fighting at the Battle of Bullecourt.

At this battle, the British Army attempted to capture the Village of Bullecourt which would allow for further advances to be made. After a massive bombardment, the village was completely destroyed in order to make way for an infantry assault, of which the 15 DLI would be a part. This assault would take place on 3 May and its likely that Stanley was killed during this attack.

For his service he received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, also he is remembered at the Arras Memorial, with his details located at bay 8 of the memorial.

After his death it is reported that his widow, Alice, received war photos and his personal items on 25 October 1917, and also received a pension, leaving £61 to their daughter Marjorie in 1954 upon her death.

Birth date: May-1889

Death date: 3-May-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 27 Manor Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire (1891 census)
20 Derby Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire (1901 census)
57 Derby Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire (1911 census)
167 London Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire (1916)

Employment: Hosiery counterman (1911 census)

Family: Father: William Jennings
Mother: Fanny Jennings
Sisters: Annie Jennings, Lilian Jennings
Brothers: Gordon Jennings, Dudley Jennings

Military service:

Leicester Regiment
Regimental Number: 285005

15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Regimental Number: 53472

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (Bay 8)
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, DLI, Durham Cathedral

Gender: Male

Contributed by Contributed by Sue Tallentire and Brian Clarke , Co Durham