George Frederick Jennings was born on 16 June 1886 in Hoxton, the eldest of the eight children of George Walter Jennings (1864-1946) and Sophia Elizabeth Jennings née Emmerton (1865-1939). He was baptised on 19 August 1888 at St Mary's Church, Hoxton, together with his brother Walter Jennings (b.1888). The baptismal register shows the family living at 84 Westmoreland Place, Hoxton, and that his father was a vellum binder.
In the 1891 census he is listed as living at 85 Westmoreland Place, Hoxton, with his parents, together with his brothers Walter and William Henry Jennings (1891-1895). The 1901 census states that he was an errand boy living at 37 Ashford Street, Hoxton, with his parents, four brothers Walter, Thomas Alfred Jennings (1894-1973), Edward Albert Jennings (1896-1903), Frederick Jennings (b.1900) and his maternal aunt Ann Emily Emmerton (1872-1946).
At the end of 1905 he enlisted as a Private in the 3rd Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), service number L/10835. He was still serving with the regiment on the outbreak of World War One and entered France on 18 January 1915. He had transferred to the regiment's 4th Battalion when he was killed in action, aged 30 years, on 1 July 1916. His body was buried near where he fell and on 5 August 1919 it was exhumed and reburied in Plot 2, Row P, Grave 10 in the Gordon Dump Cemetery, 80300 Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Somme, France.
On 8 November 1916 his army effects totalling £17-19s-3d were sent to his mother and on 17 September 1919 she was sent his £10-10s-0d war gratuity to 66 Scawfell Street, Shoreditch, where his family were now living. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
