Silver Tea & Coffee Set

A Silver Tea & Coffee Set, comprising of 4 pieces.

The Tea Pot is engraved with the following inscription;

Presented to Capt & Mrs WHC Jenkin
From the Officers Mess
39th Battalion
31.8.1934

Service Record Major W H C Jenkin EO. Service numbers V58180/VX 39823

After leaving High School, he joined the 7th Battalion in Castlemaine in 1927. (The Opening of Federal Parliament House was 9th May 1927 in Canberra) Moving to Hawthorn Victoria in 1928. He joined the 39th Battalion (Hawthorn Kew) as a sergeant.

In august 1929 Appointed Lieutenant. And promoted Captain, in June 1934. Shortly after, the State Savings Bank moved him to Stawell, where he became C O. of C Company of the 8th Battalion (Ballarat) regiment.

In 1939 when War was declared he was called down to Victoria Barracks and was posted to 6th Brigade infantry at Mount Martha camp, and promoted to Brigade Major.

He was in the first Armoured Fighting Schools and Armoured Divisional Schools at RAAC Puckapunyal in 1940. And assisted in the formation of the 2/8 Armoured division as 2 I/e.

They undertook extensive training in the General Grant MK 3 Medium tanks in NSW and Queensland and were on their last leave before being shipped over to the Middle East.

When Japan declared war. The 2/8th was held back and in April 1943 were sent to New Guinea, serving in Milne Bay, Port Moresby, Buna and Dobadura, mostly used for Airfield and costal defence. The Grant M3s were unsuitable for Jungle use and were replaced with the Matilda tanks.

In 1944 the 2/8th was disbanded and Major Jenkin joined S.W.P.A, as Liaison officer working with the Americans at Hollandia, Leyte and Manilla until May 1945.