A Great War trio and Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant William Cornelius Jennings

A Great War trio and Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant William Cornelius Jennings, Australian Imperial Force, who was wounded in action at Gallipoli, mentioned in despatches, and killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres: 1914-15 Star (263 CPL W.C. JENNINGS. 1/BN. A.I.F.), British War and Victory Medals (LIEUT. W.C. JENNING. A.I.F.), Memorial Plaque in card case (WILLIAM CORNELIUS JENNINGS), extremely fine or better.

A native of Tipperary, Ireland, William Jennings had served in the 1st Battalion the Royal Irish for ten years prior to the war, leaving when his time expired. At the outbreak of the war he was living in Australia, and lost little time, enlisting at Sydney 2nd September 1914 aged 36. As a Private in the 1st Battalion A.I.F. he arrived at Gallipoli 5th April 1915. He was promoted Sergeant, before sustaining a gunshot wound in the knee on the 29th. He recovered in time for a further short term in Gallipoli, before transferring to the 53rd Battalion in Egypt. where he was promoted R.S.M. This was followed by service in France during 1916, and further progress through the ranks, his promotion to Lieutenant coming on Boxing Day 1916 while on secondment to the 14th Training Battalion A.I.F. in England. He was mentioned in a despatch of Sir Douglas Haig for "distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty" L.G. 2nd January 1917. He finally rejoined the 53rd in France in August of 1917, and was killed during the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. The official record states that he "was seriously wounded on the 25.9.17 and died while being taken to the dressing station at GLENCOURSE WOOD"