Private Joseph Jeffries Jinks

 

Joseph Jeffries Jinks was born on 7 December 1896 at 295 Cupar Street, Belfast, the sixth of seven children of English-born parents, iron moulder Alfred Jinks and his wife Lavinia (nee Jeffries). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents and five surviving siblings at 16 Forth River Gardens, Springfield Road, Belfast.

Jinks enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 25 May 1915 (No.1618 – later Corps of Hussars No.71474). He embarked for France between 1916 and 1918, where he was posted to A, D or E Squadron of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. In March-April 1918 the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.

Jinks was wounded (a machine-gun bullet in his right thigh) on 25 or 26 August 1918 during the initial phase of the Advance to Victory offensive. Evacuated to the UK for treatment, he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 26 February 1919. As late as 1921 his level of disability from the wound was assessed at 6-14 per cent.

By 1960 Jinks was living with his wife Catherine at 17 Loopland Gardens, Belfast, and working as a fitter's helper. He died at Royal Victoria Hospital, following an accident, on 1 February that year. He was buried in the Dundonald Cemetery.