Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Jennings, a cart gear maker, born 1862 in Walsall, Staffs., and his wife Alice Jennings (nee Blakeley, married on the 11th February 1884 at St. George’s, Walsall Staffs.), born 1865 in Walsall, Staffs., Joseph Charles, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1884 in Walsall, Staffs., his siblings were, Alice, a schoolgirl, born 1887, Caroline, born 1889 and Ann Maria, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Walsall, Staffs., in April 1891 he was residing at Francis Street, Walsall Foreign, Staffs., this being the family home of his widowed paternal grandfather, Charles Jennings, a cart gear maker, born 1838 in Walsall, Staffs., also residing in the family home was his paternal aunt, Caroline Jennings, a tailoress, born 1870 in Walsall, Staffs. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as an iron caster and was residing in the family home at 2, Francis Street, Walsall, Staffs., together with his father, an iron forger, his mother and siblings, Alice, an iron filer, Caroline, Ann, Emma, born 1894 and Alfred John, born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Walsall, Staffs., also residing with the family was his widowed paternal grandfather, Charles Jennings, a buckle maker. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a core maker and was residing as at Station Road, Lutterworth, Leics., this being the family home of his maternal uncle and aunt John and Margaret Blakeley. On the 5th August 1912, Joseph married Annie Elizabeth Ambler in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Leics. They resided at first at 2, Francis Street, Walsall, Staffs., later moving to Gladstone Terrace, Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth, Leics. They had one child, a daughter Annie Jennings, born 9th December 1913 in Lutterworth, Leics. In the 1st quarter of 1920, Joseph’s widow married Arthur C. Hart in the Rugby, Warwks. district., they resided at Regent Street, Lutterworth, Leics., later moving to 95, Railway Terrace, Rugby, Warwks. Although officially recorded at birth as Joseph Charles, he seems to have adopted the name of Charles as his preferred first name. Joseph enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry on the 21st September 1916 in Lichfield, Staffs., for the duration of the war, he was allocated the service number 29521. He gave his home address as 2, Francis Street, Walsall, Staffs, his trade or calling as moulder and stated that he was married, he gave his age as 32 years and his religion as Church of England. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¼ inches in height, weighed 119 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. It was noted that he had bad teeth, poor feet and contracted little fingers of both hands. His fitness was classified as B2. He gave his next of kin as his wife Annie E. Jennings of 2, Francis Street, Walsall, Staffs., later changed to Gladstone Terrace, Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth, Leics. Details taken from his service record show that he was posted as a Private to the 25th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 29/9/16. Transferred to the 13th Battalion Devonshire Regiment, as a Private, service number 49586 on the 23/12/16. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force, France, on the 22/3/17. Disembarked Boulogne, 22/3/17. Transferred to the 175th Company, Labour Corps., as a Private, service number 104626 on the 14/5/17. Granted leave via Boulogne for 14 days on the 13/7/18 – 29/7/18. Granted leave via Calais for 14 days on the 3/3/19. Admitted 5th Northern General Hospital, Leicester, 11/3/19, diagnosed influenza-pneumonia. Had been ill some short time when admitted; unconscious at time of admission. Condition rapidly growing worse to date of death on 17/3/19, cause of death influenza-pneumonia-toxaemia. His widow was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and five pence from the 22/9/19.