The photo of Capt T J Jennings comes from the IRA Intelligence Book in Bureau of Military History (there is no J J Jennings nor T T Jennings in British Army)
In the Eastwood Hotel the IRA failed to find their target, apparently a Colonel Jennings. When the IRA unit broke in the door of his room, it was empty and there was no sign of him in the hotel - the Volunteers left the premises. Joe McGuinness was among the men who entered the Eastwood Hotel in Leeson Street only to find the two men they wanted had already gone.The Witness Statements on failed raids tend to be a little woolley, and I would not put too much faith on his giving the rank as Col. The fact that IRA intelligence book had this man is likely to point to the right man. The most likely man is below
1895 Aug 3. Thomas James Jennings born Staindrop, Darlington, Co Durham
1901 census - living at 56 Duke St, Staindrop, Durham
1911 census - his father has remarried.
1914 Sep 8. Enlisted in 13th Northumberland Fusiliers were part of K3 and attached to 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. He was an apprentice engineer when he joined. The 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was formed at Newcastle Sept 1914 and moved with the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division to billets in the Aylesbury area Nov 1914 then to Halton Park near Tring during May 1915 and then to Witley in August.1915.
Halton Park near Tring was owned by Alfred de Rothschild who had let it be known that he was eager to offer his estate to the War Office at the commencement of the War. The 21st (Yorkshire) Division moved to Halton Park, with Divisional headquarters at Aston Clinton House. The new camp soon became waterlogged, forcing the division into billets at a number of locations in the counties of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
1915 Sept 9. Landed France
1915 Autumn. 21st Division entrained in France in early September 1915 and within three weeks it had been deployed as one of two reserve divisions at the battle of Loos. Marching every day for a fortnight, the division arrived, exhausted and soaking, at La Buissiere at 6 a.m., and was given orders at 6.40 a.m. to advance into the battle area. The division suffered enormous casualties at Loos
1916 May 31. Citation in LG. 20390 Cpl. T. J. Jennings, 13th Bn., North'd Fus. DCM Citation. For conspicuous gallantry during a heavy bombardment by the enemy. A heavy bomb wrecked a portion of the parapet, burying two men and wounding another who was blown on to the parapet. Corporal Jennings with a private at once dug the two men out. The private was shot by a sniper, but Corporal Jennings successfully rescued the wounded man from the parapet.
1916 the 21st Division fought on the opening day of the Somme, and in the initial assault, on High Wood a fortnight later, at Flers-Courcelette in mid-September, and in three other minor assaults towards the end of the campaign.
1917 Feb 15. LG. Cross of St. George, 4rd Class. 20390 Corporal (Lance-.Serjeant) Thomas James Jennings, Northumberland Fusiliers
1917 May. 21st Division took part in the initial assault at Arras, its role was to ‘stand to’ at the extreme right of the line, as a pivot for the rest of the British assault. The division undertook two assaults in the Arras campaign, at the beginning and the end of May.
1917 Aug 10 : 13th amalgamated with 12th Bn, becoming 12/13th Battalion.
1917 Sept/Oct. It attacked three times during the campaign: at Polygon Wood at the end of September
1917 Oct 4. At Broodseinde the 12/13th Northumberland Fusiliers were taking very heavy casualties from machine-gun fire from its front and right flank. The Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel S.H. Dix MC was killed while leading the remaining men of two companies up to the first objective. Captain G.B. Riddell, who was already wounded, took command and gave orders to consolidate the first objective. During the consolidation Captain Riddell was severely wounded, and the command of the Battalion passed to the Lewis Gun Officer, Lieutenant T. McKinnon, as all officers senior to him had become casualties. Only one officer remained with each company. The total advance by the 12/13th Northumberland Fusiliers was 1100 yards from the original front line, but at a terrible cost. Casualties suffered amongst the officers were seven killed and 12 wounded; with 44 killed and 320 wounded amongst the other ranks.
1918 Jan 1. Sent back to UK to join Officer Cadet Battalion. His address is given as 1 Duke St, Staindrop, Darlington. He is a sgt in 12/13 btn
1918 Aug. 21st Division was fighting in the Third Army, and did not attack in the Hundred Days until the battle of Albert, nearly a fortnight after the opening assault at Amiens. The division distinguished itself in the initial attack, and on the night of the 23-24 August, undertook an important assault on Miraumont, whose capture was imperative to the advance of two different Corps.
1918 Sep 25 Commissioned to 3rd West Riding Regt. —Thomas James Jennings, D.C.M.
1918 Sep. Had an accident in London prior re-joining his regiment as an officer
1918 Nov 30. Discharged from hospital - Mont Dore Military Hospital, Bournemouth. Given 21 days leave.
1918 Dec 22. Rejoins regiment
1919 May 3. Married Dorothy Irene Vandy. Living at same address as on his MIC, and same father as on 1911 census
1919 Nov 16. Demobbed, but taken back into Army
1921 Sept 1. The undermentioned relinquish their commissions on completion of service: D.W.R. Temp. 2nd Lt. T. J. Jennings, D.C.M., and retains the rank of 2nd Lt (DWR is Duke Wellingtons West Riding Regt)
Later County Engineer of Kent, living at Willington Street Maidstone
1944 widowed
1952 remarried 1952 , moved to South Africa as contracting civil engineer, divorced approx 1973
1975. died Easter Saturday in Johannesburg.