Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

George Jenking was born on 29 November 1887, in Callington, Cornwall, but we have been unable to trace his parents.  In 1891, he was living in Wellington Terrace, Falmouth with his great grandmother Mary Banks (72), grandmother Elizabeth Jenkins, both widows, and Elizabeth’s five children: Nicholas (25), Elizabeth (25), William (20), Edgar (17) and Samuel (15).  In 1901, he was still living in Wellington Terrace with his grandmother Elizabeth and William (30).  By 1911, George was living at the Arwenack Temperance Hotel, Arwenack Street, Falmouth and was a dentist’s mechanic.

George enlisted on 24 June 1916, was called up on 9 December 1916 at Norwich and mobilised on 12 December 1916, joining T Company of the Royal Army Medical Corps.  George had previously served as a volunteer with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.  He gave his address as 55 Heigham Road, Norwich and his occupation as a dental assistant working for H O Wolf at the London Dental Institute, Norwich and he was licensed in dental surgery.  George was of a slight build being 5’4” tall with a 33” chest and weighing only 114lb.  He spent the whole of his war service at home mainly with the 320th East Anglian Field Ambulance, until he was demobilised on 20 June 1919.  In September 1917, he was promoted to Lance Corporal.  George spent several periods in hospital from December 1917 to June 1918 suffering from nervous debility and stated that he was anxious to get back to civil life where he had a good situation.  He was prescribed rest, tonics and diet and once improved returned to his unit.

He passed through Peterborough East Station on 22 March 1917 and wrote in the visitors’ book “Many thanks for kindness shown by the Women we are Proud to fight for.”

George married Charlotte Airey on 11 November 1915 at Keighley, Yorkshire.  She was named as his next of kin and was living at 4 Melbourne Terrace, Little Horton Lane, Bradford.  They had one child, George Cornwallis, born on 15 April 1919 in Yarmouth.  On demobilisation, George and his family were living at 34 Havelock Road, Great Yarmouth.

In 1939, George and his family were living at The Bungalow, Cowlands Creek, Kea, Truro, Cornwall, his occupation was listed as a compounder in gutta percha manufacture.  Gutta percha is a natural thermoplastic used in the dental industry and despite the introduction of more modern materials it is still used for root canal fillings today. http://plastiquarian.com/?page_id=14211

George died in Truro in the March qtr of 1971, aged 84 years.

Was George a member of your family?  Do get in touch if you can tell us more.