CSM
Horace Clifford Jenns
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Company Sergeant Major |
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Service number: 237 |
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Enlistment date: 13/07/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 31st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Remus Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXV Row: D Grave: 8 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Horace Clifford Jenns was the Company Sergeant Major of the Australian Infantry 31st Battalion’s “A” Company. The 31st Battalion was part of the 8th Australian Brigade, of the 5th Australian Division. On the 9th of October 1917 the 31st Australian Battalion participated in the Battle of Poelcapelle, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres.
Although it didn’t attack the 31st Battalion relieved the 7th Australian Battalion in the support line on the 9th of October 1917. The Battalion was in support to the 1st Australian Brigade of the 1st Australian Division, which was in the frontline just South of the hamlet of Broodseinde. The 31st Battalion consequently occupied the left support sector on the Broodseinde-Noordemdhoek road.
German artillery shelled the 31st Battalion’s positions rom 04.57 p.m. till 05.40 p.m. The shelling was particularly heavy in the area of Remus Wood. In reply to an allied barrage the German artillery recommenced shelling the support positions from 09.30 p.m. till 10.00 p.m.
Company Sergeant Major Horace Clifford Jenns was killed in action on the 9th of October 1917. He was initially buried along the 31st Battalion’s line near Remus Wood. His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood. The location of his initial grave indicates that Company Sergeant Major Horace Clifford Jenns possibly fell due to the heavy German artillery fire on Remus Wood.
Although it didn’t attack the 31st Battalion relieved the 7th Australian Battalion in the support line on the 9th of October 1917. The Battalion was in support to the 1st Australian Brigade of the 1st Australian Division, which was in the frontline just South of the hamlet of Broodseinde. The 31st Battalion consequently occupied the left support sector on the Broodseinde-Noordemdhoek road.
German artillery shelled the 31st Battalion’s positions rom 04.57 p.m. till 05.40 p.m. The shelling was particularly heavy in the area of Remus Wood. In reply to an allied barrage the German artillery recommenced shelling the support positions from 09.30 p.m. till 10.00 p.m.
Company Sergeant Major Horace Clifford Jenns was killed in action on the 9th of October 1917. He was initially buried along the 31st Battalion’s line near Remus Wood. His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood. The location of his initial grave indicates that Company Sergeant Major Horace Clifford Jenns possibly fell due to the heavy German artillery fire on Remus Wood.
Sources 6
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AIF-project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/search Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10246813 Sources used |
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CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480305/JENNS,%20HORACE%20CLIFFORD Sources used |
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National Archives of Australia http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Australian Infantry 31st Bn. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |