In memory of David Roy Jenkins

David Roy Jenkins was educated at Christ College, Brecon, and Clifton School. He excelled at hockey, and captained Bridgend Hockey Club.

His father, Jacob Jenkins, lived in Brackla Street, Bridgend, and ran a business called Charles Jenkins & Son which sold timber, lime and bricks. Roy worked for the business as a young man, managing the Tunnel Brickworks at Fforestfach, Swansea.

Roy’s grandfather, Charles Jenkins, lived at Ystrad Meurig, near Aberystwyth. By 1917, Roy’s mother was living in Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire. She had been an invalid for many years.

He joined the Territorial Force of the Royal Field Artillery before the First World War, and was promoted to captain in 1915. He served in France in 1915 and 1916, then went to Egypt. He volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps after returning to France in October 1915, and studied technical aspects of flying at Brazenose College, Oxford.

A fortnight into his training at Salisbury Plain, Roy’s plane crashed on 21 January 1917. His body was found about 5km (three miles) from the camp. He was 28 years old.

The Bridgend platoon of the Glamorgan Volunteers provided a firing party at the head of the funeral procession from his home to St Mary’s Church, Nolton.

Mrs Jenkins’ suffered heart problems after receiving news of her son’s death. She died in April 1917.

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