Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Jennings, a warehouseman, born on the 29th December 1860 in Hinckley, Leicestershire (son of James Jennings, 1817-1881 and Elizabeth Palmer, 1819-1871) and his wife Fanny Jennings (nee Everitt, married on the 15th October 1882 in St. Editha’s Church, Tamworth, Staffordshire), born on the 27th November 1858 in Atherstone, Warwickshire and baptised on the 6th February 1859 in St. Mary’s Church, Atherstone (daughter of John Everitt, 1831-1903 and Sarah Cook, 1832-1913). Stanley was born in the July quarter of 1889 in Hinckley, his siblings were, Annie Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1883 in Atherstone and Ethel Blanche, born on the 5th July 1887 in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at 27, Manor Street, Hinckley. In March 1901 Stanley was residing in the family home at 20, Derby Road, Hinckley, together with his father, a hosiery trade warehouseman, his mother and siblings, Annie, a hosiery trade finisher, Lilian Sarah, a hosiery trade finisher, born in the July quarter of 1885 in Hinckley, Ethel, a hosiery trade finisher, William Everitt, born in the July quarter of 1891, Gordon, born in the July quarter of 1894 and Dudley Beasley, born on the 9th January 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Hinckley. In April 1911 Stanley was employed as a hosiery trade counterman and was residing in the family home at 57, Derby Road, Hinckley, together with his father, a hosiery trade manager, his mother and siblings, Ethel, a hosiery trade linker, William, a grocer’s clerk, Gordon, a hosiery trade maker and Dudley, also residing in the family home was Stanley’s widowed maternal grandmother Sarah Everitt, born 1833 in Atherstone. In the July quarter of 1914, Stanley married Alice Esther Duckett in the Hinckley district, Alice was born on the 14th January 1879 in Leicester (daughter of Reuben Duckett, 1851 and Ann Grubb, 1844). Stanley and Alice had two children, Marjorie, born on the 31st March 1915 and Gordon Stanley, born on the 3rd December 1916, both children were born in Hinckley. Stanley’s younger brother Gordon, died on the 10th February 1915 from wounds received in action.
Stanley enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 26th February 1916 in Hinckley, and was allotted the regimental service number 28005. He gave his place of birth as Hinckley, Leicestershire and his trade or calling as hosiery hand.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 13th April 1916 and recorded his apparent age as 26 years 281 days, that he was 5-feet 9 inches in height, weighed 128 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33¾ and 35¾ inches.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. At Leicester. 26/2/16.
To Army Reserve. Pte. 27/2/16.
Mobilized. 13/4/16.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. 13/4/16
Transferred. To 11th Bn. South Staffordshire Regt. Rugeley Camp. Allotted Regimental No. 24476. 15/4/16.
Appointed. Acting Lance Corporal (unpaid). 23/6/16
Appointed. Acting Lance Corporal (paid). 3/7/16.
Transferred. To 9th Training Reserve Bn. Allotted Regimental No. 32154. 1/9/16.
Appointed. Acting Lance Corporal. 11/12/16
Posted. To 35th Infantry Brigade depot, Etaples. 20/12/16.
Posted. To 15th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Allotted Regimental No. 53464. 20/12/16.
Joined. 15th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. In the Field. 24/12/16.
Reverted. To Private on joining the Bn. In the Field. 24/12/16.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 3/5/17.
Killed in action. In the Field. 3/5/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 26/2/16 – 26/2/16. 1 day.
Army Reserve. 27/2/16 – 12/4/16. 45 days.
Home Service. 13/4/16 – 18/12/16. 250 days.
France. 19/12/16 – 3/5/17. 136 days.
Total Service. 1 year 67 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 7th December 1917 Stanley’s widow Alice was awarded a weekly Army Pension of twenty-two shillings and eleven pence for herself and her two children Marjorie and Gordon Stanley, to commence on the 17th December 1917.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 – HINDENBURG LINE. In accordance with orders contained in the 64th Infantry Brigade Operational Order No.119, the Battalion attacked at 3.45am down both trenches of the HINDENBURG LINE but met with strong resistance and in spite of the fact that further separate attempts were made, was unable to pass the German block. Throughout the day the enemy shelled our part of the trench very heavily and there was a considerable number of casualties. At 8.00pm the Battalion was relieved by the 1st Battalion EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and returned to that portion of the HINDENBURG LINE held on morning of 2nd.
CASUALTIES 3.5.17.
Killed in action: -
2nd Lieutenant C. W. BAILDON.
Wounded: -
Captain W. EDMENSON.
2nd Lieutenant E. LYALL.
Lieutenant C. S. HERBERT.
2nd Lieutenant M. H. GRANT.
2nd Lieutenant W. BIGG.
2nd Lieutenant W. I. CURNON.
2nd Lieutenant J. H. BAILLIE.
Other Ranks.
Killed in action 10.
Wounded 68.
Missing 28.
Total 106.
On Saturday June 30th 1917, The Leicester Mail published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” – HINCKLEY DISTRICT CASUALTIES. Private Stanley Jennings (27) Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action on June 3rd. He is the second son that Mr. and Mrs. W. Jennings of Charles Street, Hinckley, have lost in the war, and he leaves a widow and two children.