Lt Col NHP ‘Jimmy’ Jenks MBE, MM who won the Military Medal in Korea, has died aged 79. Jenks was serving in 1st Royal Leicesters as a Section Commander on 5 November 1951 when the Battalion, which had just arrived in Korea, was ordered to capture two hill features in a day time attack. Although they reached their objectives the Battalion was eventually forced to withdraw at nightfall after suffering heavy casualties.

During the next day three patrols were required. Jenks, an insistent volunteer, personally went out on all three. On the first occasion, just after first light, two wounded men were brought in. On the second occasion the patrol was forced to withdraw owing to heavy and accurate shell and mortar fire on them. On the third occasion, in company with one other, Jenks got to within 30 yards of the top of the hill which had been one of the objectives the day before and was known to be strongly held by the enemy. While there, Jenks secured positive means of identification from the body of an officer killed the day before and recovered the Bren gun of a section that had been wiped out. He only left the position when opened up on at close range and endured a hazardous return under heavy fire.

Subsequently Jenks carried out bold and skillful reconnaissance patrols which brought back information of the greatest value. His eagerness to volunteer for hazardous duty, his bold successful accomplishment of patrols and his steadiness and disregard of danger at all times when under heavy fire, were an inspiration and example to his company and the men under his command. For his actions Jenks was awarded the Military Medal.

Jimmy Jenks, the son of a Sergeant in the Sherwood Foresters, was born in India and brought up in Bombay, Cyprus and Guernsey. He was educated at Beeston Fields School in Nottinghamshire. As a boy he was a Sergeant in the Army Cadet Force and enlisted at 171/2 into the Royal Leicestershire Regiment in 1947. By June 1950 he was a Section Commander and went with the 1st Battalion to Hong Kong and then Korea. By December 1951 he had been promoted to Platoon Sergeant in the field, writing home to his parents from the fighting that he was in the best of health and quite happy.

He subsequently served in the Cyprus Emergency in 1956-57 becoming a Company Sergeant Major after only 10 years’ service. In 1962 as National Service ended, the Royal Leicesters, like many other regiments, realized the need to recruit regular soldiers. The then Company Sergeant Major Jenks was a key part of the recruiting team sent home to Leicestershire, accompanied at frequent intervals by the Regimental Band and Drums. After 18 months the team had recruited 378 regulars, a record for an English line regiment and a clear demonstration of Jenks’ ‘can do’ attitude. It is also testimony to his character and determination that Jenks was Regimental Sergeant Major three times. First with 7th Royal Warwicks to prepare them for a Colours Parade; secondly to Depot The Royal Anglian Regiment, as the Royal Leicesters joined the new Regiment; and thirdly with 1st Royal Leicesters as they became the 4th Battalion of The Royal Anglian Regiment. He was RSM of 4 Royal Anglian during their tour of duty in Aden. In 1966 he was awarded the MBE for his outstanding service as Regimental Sergeant Major.

After being commissioned in 1967, Jenks served in Bahrain, BAOR and completed three operational tours in Northern Ireland, later joining the staff of HQ Northern Ireland as a Staff Officer in ‘Q Ops’. Following a final tour with his Regiment in Berlin, Jenks was posted to the Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park in 1979 after being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He thus joined that distinguished band of soldiers who through sheer character and determination worked their way through the ranks from Private to Lieutenant Colonel.

Jimmy Jenks was greatly admired by his contemporaries and greatly loved by his soldiers, whose best interests he always had at heart. He was strict, but impartial and fair and had a wonderful knack of encouraging everyone to give of their best. Fit and strong he led by example. He was a keen sportsman playing rugby, water polo and basketball for his Battalion. His greatest passion however was for his football team. This he ran for years arranging games against all comers wherever he and his Battalion were posted. In 1965 on operations in Aden, on a pitch with armed guards patrolling the perimeter, his Battalion team won the Army Middle East Football Cup. Then in 1967 the team, now stationed in Malta, reached the final of the Army Cup, travelling back to England at private expense to take part in each round. All of this was typical of Jenks’ determination, leadership and ability to ‘make things happen’. So it came as no surprise that a wreath from members of his team in the shape of a football was displayed at his funeral.

A devoted family man, Jimmy Jenks married Margaret in 1956. She and their two daughters Julie and Beverley, who looked after him devotedly during his difficult final years, survive him.

AJGP