Throughout 2015, to mark the centenary year of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, Revive will be publishing a series of articles highlighting the men who provided chaplaincy to those who served in WW1.
Rev Charles Jenkins was born in Maldon Victoria 1869 and arrived in Western Australia in 1896 to become the assistant to the Rev Dr Rowe of the Perth Circuit. On the completion of his term in Perth he moved through the country areas of WA as a much loved pastor to the people.
Charles, a Methodist minister, was commissioned on 20 January 1915 and sailed on the troopship HMAT Itonus doing duty as a transport Chaplain for the voyage only. He returned to Australia three months later.
On 10 September 1917, Charles enlisted in the Army as Chaplain (4thClass) Chaplains Unit. He embarked from Sydney NSW on the HMAT A55 Euripides and disembarked at Devonport England on the 26 December 1917. He was stationed at No2 Command depot Weymouth. On 22 June 1919 he became the Senior Chaplain at AIF Headquarters London.
Charles was awarded the British War Medal and became the Senior Military Chaplain of the state with the rank of Colonel. He was discharged from full-time military service on the 7 January 1920. Rev Charles Jenkins retired from ministry in 1938 and died in 1955.
Sheena Hesse, Archivist for the Uniting Church in WA