Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James and Mary Jennings. The 1911 census for Kettering Road, Little Bowden, Leicestershire records James Jennings, head of the family, married 30 years and a Builder, born 1847 in Gayton, Northants., and his wife Mary, born 1853 in Gayton, Northants. Also James Henry, son living on private means, born 1880 in Great Bowden, Leics., Blanche, daughter a Costermine, born 1885 in Great Bowden, Leics., and William Edward, son and a Dentists Mechanic, born 1892 in Little Bowden, Leics. The War Diary for the 27th September 1915 records. LOOS. At 6.00am. The enemy again made another counter attack and advanced on our front line trenches in mass, by 7.30am owing both heavy casualties and no relief, we were driven from the front line trenches and took up a second line 100 yards in rear, this was lost and retaken several times during the day, fighting continuing incessantly. At 11.00pm. The Battalion was relieved, when this took place we still held the second line of trenches. NOTE: Owing to continued shelling no food or water ever reached the men, thus they had no food except the iron ration, since leaving BRUUAY. [sic]. During Saturday night rain fell heavily, with showers on Sunday, conditions were very bad as the soil being a clay mixture made quick improvements impossible. The casualties were very heavy, the total being 402 – all ranks killed and wounded missing. The Commanding Officer (Lt. Col. A. PARKIN), Captain V. D. SHORTT and LT. L. L. PHIPPS were killed. Major -?-, Captain E. C. MANSFIELD, Captain -?-, Lt. MARSHALL, 2nd Lt. SAUNDERS were wounded. Captain D. H. FARRAR, wounded slightly and remained at duty. Lt. J. N. MORLEY, Lt. J. L. URQUHART, wounded and missing.