My ANZAC

A while back we were talking about family history and I mentioned my grandad who jumped ship in Australia.I have followed up my research and have got his military details, through the wonders of the internet. Given the timing, I thought you might like to share my findings.Archer Clive Jenkins was born in Liverpool in 1889. I am still unclear of the how and when, but he found himself in Australia and joined the 18th Field Artillery on September 23rd 1915. (coincidently, this was to be the birthday of his son, my father, in 1928!) Dvr (Driver) A.C. Jenkins was in the AIF for 1 year and 68 days, which included 330 days service abroad: this would have been in Egypt and Gallipoli. He was discharged on 23rd November 1916 as medically unfit. I have his original discharge certificate and WW1 medals.At some point he returned to England and brought his bride-to-be (Lilian) Grace Fenn back to Melbourne. They married on their arrival in Melbourne on 26th February 1926 and Grace had the dubious pleasure of departing on her birthday the following day to their bark humpy in the Mallee. They settled in the Mildura area near his sister, Annie and her husband Wil (Grace’s brother) and their two young children: all were featured in The Sun News Pictorial on Wednesday October 26th 1927. This included a photo of Arch and says he was formerly of the Royal Navy: will need to investigate that!My father Les was born in September 1928, swiftly following his sister Dorothy born the previous August. Dot will turn 80 this year and is the aunty I am making a scrapbook for. Dad passed on in 2003.Military life returned with WW2. After the Great Depression which saw him leaving the family to find work as a shearer’s cook and losing the family farm, Archer joined the Australian Army Catering Corps on October 15th and served at home until 16th September 1947, reaching the rank of Sergeant. At some stage the family relocated to Noble Park in Melbourne. Granny and Grandad retired to Rosebud and then later Chelsea.I was lucky to have grandad come to live with us for his final years after Granny died in 1972. He passed away at home in 1977. Sadly, teenagers in the 1970s weren’t terribly interested in the origins of ANZAC Day and the *boring* tales of their grandfather. I am now trying to gather the threads of his story together.