Col. C.B.H. Wolseley-Jenkins & Capt. C.W. Wolseley-Jenkins - St Andrew - Wroxeter, Shropshire - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

A memorial plaque in St Andrew's church, Wroxeter, to Col. C.B.H. Wolseley-Jenkins who served in the Egyptian War 1882-1884, & Capt. C.W. Wolseley-Jenkins killed in action in France 1915. The memorial consists of a rectangular tablet set on a wooden backboard with black lettering.

Inscription -
IN LOVING AND DEVOTED MEMORY OF
COLONEL C.B.H. WOLSELEY - JENKINS
19tH HUSSARS BORN AT CHARLTON HILL
17th MARCH 1856 DIED 14th DECEMBER 1922
SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION IN THE EGYPTIAN WAR
1882 - 1884 INCLUDING THE BATTLES OF KASSASSIN AND TEL-EL KEBIR
EL TEB AND TAMAL AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
INCLUDING THE DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH
CHRIST'S SOLDIER AND SERVANT UNTO HIS LIFE'S END.
ALSO IN DEARLY LOVING MEMORY OF HIS ONLY SON
C.W. WORSELEY- JENKINS
CAPTAIN 3rd BATT. RIFLE BRIGADE
BORN 11th FEBRUARY 1890
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE SEPTEMBER 25th 1915
FIGHTING LIKE AN ABSOLUTE HERO IN COMMAND OF HIS COMPANY
AND ONE OF THE FINEST LEADERS THAT EVER LIVED
MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES FOR MOST CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN THE FIELD
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE
LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

entry in the Regimental History for the 25th September 2nd Rifle Brigade -

"The Second Battalion Attack at Bois Grenier

The action of Bois Grenier was planned and carried out by Brigadier-General R.B. Stephens with the brigade that he won on the field at Fromelles. His objective was the line of forts, on a twelve hundred yard frontage, from Bridoux Fort to Corner Fort, both inclusive. In addition to the artillery he brought up two trench mortar batteries into the Well Farm and Bridoux salients, and caused six 18 pounders to be dug into the front line pararpet- two in the Bridoux salient; one in the Well Farm salient; two west of Well Farm and one east of Le Bridoux- to fire direct on the enemy's parapet. He had considerable difficulties to overcome in the nature of the ground, for between the two salients, the line ran back fully five hundred yards and he had so to dispose of his centre as to enable it to attack simultaneously with the right and left. His dispositions were as follows:- On the right was the Second Battalion, commanded by Lieut.- Colonel F.H. Nugent, on a one company front. The attacking company ("C" - Captain Hon. R. Brand) with bombers attached was drawn up, in front of an old trench astride the Rossignol Ditch - a small watercourse flowing into the ubiquitous Riviere des Laies. On the left were the Lincolns, also on a one company frontage, in the borrow-pit outside the parapet of Bridoux salient and east of Le Bridoux road. The Royal Berkshires were to attack in the centre, with three companies in line along the cinder track across the re-entrant between the two salients. Behind the Royal Berkshires were to be posted two companies of the Royal Irish Rifles, the remainder of which battalion would hold the line on the left of the assault. In brigade reserve General Stephens had 1/1st Battalion London Regiment and the 1/8th Middlesex Regt. He rejected the idea of gas, but arranged for smoke to screen the flanks, and laid two shallow mines which, when exploded, would facilitate the digging of a communication trench to join up with the captured trenches. On the right of the attack the 2nd Btn. East Lancashire Regt. and the 2nd Btn. Sherwood Foresters of the 24th Infantry brigade were to co-operate with fire.

At 3.30 on September 25th Captain Brand took his company and the special bombers into their assigned position, some two hundred yards from the German line. At 4.25am the bombardment began. nticipating the tactics generally adopted later in the war, Captain Brand led his company and bombers right up to the barrage, so that directly it lifted they should leap into the fort. At 4.30 the barrage lifted. At 4.31 the Corner Fort had been captured, and the bombers were bombing right, left and forward to clear the communicating trenches. "As usual" said a German prisoner bitterly to the Corps Intelligence Officer, "before we knew what was happening the Rifle Brigade was on top of us"!. By 6am "C" Company not only had the fort but had pushed forward advanced posts into the German second line with blocks established to guard the right flank. Meanwhile "A" Company (Captain C.W. Wolseley-Jenkins) had penetrated into the German front-line trench to the east of the Fort, making use of the Rossignol Ditch for cover. Shortly after 5am part of "B" Company (Captain Hon. N.G. Bligh) had crossed by the same means; and "D" Company (Captain F.C. Hunt) was already at work deepening the ditch for communication purposes, and carrying material to the forward companies in the captured positions. Captain H.L Riley, the second in command, who crossed with "A" Company took command in the captured trenches, keeping up communication with Battalion Headquarters by a telephone laid, and kept in repair throughout the action by the Battalion signallers. The Divisional Commanders report of the action pays a glowing tribute to the "utmost dash and gallantry" displayed by the Battalion and especially by Captain Brand and by Captain C. Wolseley-Jenkins who "particularly distinguished himself". So far on the right the success had exceeded the most sanguine expectations.

On the left the Lincolns had captured Bridoux Fort by the same tactics and had also pushed forward to the second line. But in the centre all was not so well. The Royal Berkshire Attack on the left centre broke into the German line, capturing the Lozenge and a strip of trench extending to the elbow known as fifth point. But the right company of the Berkshires met with uncut wire masking machine guns; and the attack on Angle Fort was a failure. The consequent exposure of the left flank of the Second Battalion made it wiser to withdraw the advanced posts in the German second line and concentrate upon the defence of Corner Fort with a view to its ultimate absorption into the British front line system This was done at 6.30am. At 8am the situation was that the Lincolns held Bridoux Fort and were in touch with the Berkshires who prolonged the line up to and including the Lozenge. Then came a gap of three hundred yards in which the enemy held out all day. Then came the Second Battalion in possession of Corner Foer and of some two hundred yards of trench to the east of it. Just at about this time the two company's of the Royal Irish Rifles were sent to reserve to strengthen the Lincolns in Bridoux Fort; and the 24th Brigade bombers were sent forward to reinforce the line, "as the main difficulty was keeping up the supply of bombs and bombers". By 10am the Second Battalion was strongly entrenched in Corner Fort with blocks to the left and right. Sappers had aided the Infantry to reverse the enemy's trench, and communication was established with the old front line. Stores of bombs were accumulated and a machine gun and two trench mortars were brought forward. The Battalion was preparing to make a determined effort to capture the Angle Fort and join up with the Royal Berkshires. But before this could be carried out a series of happeningsa intervened, best described in the words of Major-General Hudson, the 4th Divisional Commander.

"At 1pm" he says, "a determined counter attack drove the Lincolns from Bridoux Fort and captured the trench for one hundred yards west of the Fort" (i.e. in the direction of the Royal Berkshires). "Both flanks of the Royal Berkshires were then hard pressed; and at 1.55pm Colonel Hunt gave the order to withdraw. "During this time the 2nd Battaion Rifle Brigade had maintained themselves in the enemy's trenches, had beaten off several counter attacks and had consolidated their position.... ground had been gained to the east towards the 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment and the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade were preparing, by bringing up bombs, to make a big effort to join hands.

"Unfortunately the retirement of the left and centre attacks made it imperative to withdraw the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade; and at 3.30 orders were issued to them to retire."

He records that the retirement was "very orderly", being completed by 4pm; and warmly commends Captain H.L. Riley for the skill and coolness with which it was carried out under his direction. Higher praise can hadly be given to a Battalion by its Divisional Commander in his official narrative of the battle. But it was dearly brought. Captain C.F. Hunt, Captain C. Wolseley-Jenkins, Lieutenants W.N. Monteith, A.W.W. Turnour and W.F.T. Sheridan, 2nd Lieutenant L.V. Chapman and sevety three other ranks were killed; Captain Bligh, Lieutenant C.B.A. Hoskyns, the battalion machine gun officer, 2nd Lieutenant C.M. Beazley and one hundred and sevety four other ranks were wounded. The fighting had been hand to hand and bitter. Lieutenant W.G.K. Boswell, of "B" Company, having shot down two Germans and emptied his revolver, flung himself at a third with bare fists and knocked his man out. Rifleman Fido, only seventeen years of age, won the Military Medal and the Croix de Guerre by his invincible courage throughout the day, bombing indefatigably(and accurately) for twelve hours. He was one of the last to leave the captured trench; and in the very moment of departure he must turn and hurl a final bomb!. Sergeant Riddett, one of the machine gun section, who took charge after Lieutenant Hoskyns was wounded, won the D.C.M. by his cool and skillful shooting. D.C.M's were also won by Sergeant W. Sheffield, Rifleman J.Ryan and Rifleman Burgess. The first and second for gallantry in patrol, the last for maintaining the telephone line in No-Mans-Land. Captain Brand received the D.S.O., the Chaplain, the Rev. E.K. Talbot, the Military Cross. Many officers and other ranks were mentioned in despatches."

From The Rifle Brigade 1914 - 1918 Volume 1, pages 135,136,137 & 138.
by Captain Reginald Berkley and Brigadier-General William W Seymour
ISBN 10: 1847346987

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