| Jennings | James Willes | | Captain | JENNINGS, JAMES WILLES, Captain, was born 25 February 1866, son of Robert Jennings, of Woodlawn, Cork. He was educated at Monmouth; was 1st Senior Medallist, Surgery, RCS, Ireland, 1886-87; 1st, Prizeman, Surgery, Adelaide Hospital, Dublin, 1886; LRCS, LM, Ireland; LM, Rotunda; FZS, FRGS; Member Royal Institute of Public Health. He became Captain, Army Medical Department, 31 January 1891; served in the Dongola Expedition, 1896 (Egyptian Medal). He was selected for service in the Egyptian Army in January 1897; served in the Nile Expedition of 1897 (clasp to Egyptian Medal). He served in the Nile Expedition of 1898, was present at, the Battle of Khartoum, and in the defeat of Ahmed Fedil's Army at Rosaires 26 December 1898. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898 and 5 May 1899]; received a clasp to the Egyptian Medal, the Medal, the 4th Class Medjidie, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 30 June 1899]: "James Willes Jennings, Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps. In recognition of services during the recent operations in Egypt and the Sudan, including the Battle of Khartoum". The Insignia were presented to him by the Queen at Osborne 5 August 1899. Captain Jennings was Senior Medical Officer, Blue Nile District, Sudan, 1898-99. He served in South Africa, 1899-1902, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith; operations on Tugela Heights 14 to 27 February 1900 (in Medical Charge of the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment). Operations in Natal, March to June 1900, including action of Laing's Nek. Operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900. Operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902 (Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]; Queen's Medal with five clasps; King's Medal with two clasps). He became Major 31 January 1903, and was specially selected for service with the Abyssinian Army against the Mullah, 1903-04 (Despatches, London Gazette, 2 September 1904; Medal and clasp). He served on the Army Headquarters Staff, India, 1905-07. Major Jennings retired 31 January 1911. He served in the European War as Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 56th Field Ambulance, BEF, France, 1915-16; commanding St Andrew's Military Hospital, Malta, 1917-18, and No 5 Stationary Hospital, BEF, France, 1919. Lieutenant Colonel Jennings published 'Cordite Eating' (1903),and 'With the Abyssinians in Somaliland' (1906). He married, in 1899, Katie (who died in 1900), daughter of Archibald Grey, of 37 Holland Park, London.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Army Medical Corps |
