JENKINS, CPL MALCOLM E
The address originally provided to the students of Magnetawan was below:
No. 1 R.C.E.
C.M.F. No 1 Tunneling Co (Central Mediterranean Force?)
Canadian Army Overseas
But, this was striked out and replaced by:
Cpl. M.E. Jenkins B 17049
1st Canadian Drilling Coy
R.C.E.
Canadiian Army Overseas
C.M.F.
Malcolm Jenkins was born December 19, 1919 in Croft, the son of Eldon and Kate Jenkins.
Malcolm was listed as 1 year old at the time of the 1921 census.
Malcolm married Annie Vera Wilson
After No. 1 Tunnelling Company arrived in Italy, it was renamed No. 1 Drilling Company (March 1944). In the early days, the company was tasked with building underground bunkers for both British and American HQ locations, an observation post overlooking Cassino for the Royal Air Force, and smaller but necessary tasks during the advance to Rome through the Liri Valley. In June 1944, the company started experimenting with driving pipe piles in support of South African engineers building a Bailey Bridge over the Tiber. Later they moved to Tuscany and help restore waterworks in Siena and Florence. in August the 1st Canadian Corps was secretly moving to the Adriatic coast in preparation for the Gothic Line attack.
When the advance to the Metauro River began on 25 August, the unit was busy pipe-piling for bridges on the advance routes; one across the Esino River at Iesi and another across the mouth of the Cesano River just south of the Metauro. The next would be across the Metauro itself. (From the story of Daniel Chishome).
Malcolm responded to the Magnetawan students several times:
Malcolm ‘Mac’ wrote on December 9, 1944. He spoke of being in the mountains – most undoubtedly in Italy.
In his letter, Mac speaks to the living conditions – in tents with makeshift stoves.
Malcolm Jenkins wrote again on March 15, 1945
At below left, a second letter from March 1944 in which the news is good – the war may soon be over.
