D-Day veteran John Jenkins remembered at packed Portsmouth Cathedral memorial

Scores of people have packed into Portsmouth Cathedral as the city marks the life of tales of Mr Jenkins, who died on December 17, aged 100.

The ‘remarkable’ veteran was given a standing ovation by world leaders and royalty during the commemoration event in Southsea marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day in June last year.

Today city leaders, members of Portsmouth Football Club, the military, relatives and friends of Mr Jenkins are among those attending his memorial service.

Dean Dr Anthony Cane said it was the ‘measure of the man’ that so many people had come out to honour the Second World War hero.

He said: ‘John was a truly remarkable man. He was a Portsmouth icon.

‘He was a humble, unassuming man who showed just how remarkable an ordinary human life can be.

‘He really was one of Portsmouth’s finest.’

Family and friends spoke of John’s life, describing him as a ‘humble, loyal gentleman’.

Members of the D-Day Story museum, where John had volunteered since 2005, united in grief at the loss of an ‘inspirational character’.

Felicity Wood, public participation officer at the Southsea heritage attraction, told the congregation how Mr Jenkins had brought the story of the D-Day invasion to life.

She said the veteran had spoken to ‘thousands of visitors’ during his time with the museum and had a unique ability to put people ‘at ease’ when speaking to them.

She added: ‘It’s very hard going to the museum and expecting to see him. He came regularly right up until the time that he passed away which was such an achievement for someone of his age.

‘It’s so very sad that we no longer have him.

‘He was incredibly modest about what he did during the war but he will always be a hero to us.’

John’s love of Portsmouth Football Club, where he served as a boardroom steward for many years, was also remembered.

While his appearance during the D-Day 75 commemorations transformed him from a ‘local icon’ into a ‘national icon’, Dr Cane said.

Mr Jenkins’s granddaughters also paid tribute to John’s bravery during the Second World War.

Speaking to The News ahead of the service, granddaughter Alison Baynes, 52, said the horrors John experienced on the beaches of Normandy inspired him to show love to everyone he met.

‘He didn’t want to make any enemies,’ she said ‘He hated division. That probably had something to do with with the war.

‘He helped out everybody. He always wanted to look after people.’

Alison added the family had been blown away by the support of the city during John’s funeral last month, which saw hundreds of people line the streets to bid him farewell.

‘We were absolutely blown away by the city’s reaction,’ she said. ‘We didn’t have any clue that the city loved him so much.’

Granddaughter Fiona Collins, 56, of Yorkshire, said the whole family was stunned by the show of support from Portsmouth during today’s service.

She added: ‘We’re so proud of our “Dan Dad”. He was truly loved and humble. He never had a bad word to say about anybody.

‘He was friends with everybody. Everybody loved him.’

The service saw a number of prayers and readings as well as a solo performance by Mr Jenkins’s great granddaughter, Louisa. The Last Post was also played by a military bugler.

Colour Sergeant Nigel Munday, of 4th Battalion the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, joined Reverend Canon Dr Jo Spreadbury in honouring John’s military service.

Initially enlisting in the Royal Hampshire Regiment, Mr Jenkins later transferred to the Royal Pioneer Corps.

In 1944 he was one of a small group of men who landed on the Normandy beaches before the invasion to collect samples of sand to establish whether they were strong enough to take the weight of the vehicles and to assess the enemy’s shoreline defences.

As a platoon sergeant, he landed on Gold Beach and moved ammunition from the beach to the front.

He later took part in the battle of Caen and the Falaise Gap, the breakout from Normandy, before pushing into Belgium, Holland and Germany.

He was later awarded France’s highest medal for valour, the Legion d’Honnuer for his role in D-Day.

During John’s emotional speech at the D-Day 75 commemorations last year, he described his role in the invasion.

He said: ‘I was terrified - I think everyone was. You don't show it, but it's there.

‘I was a small part in a very big machine. You never forget your comrades because we were all in it together.

‘It's right that the courage and sacrifice of so many is being honoured 75 years later. We must never forget.’

In later life became the oldest man to abseil down Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower at the age of 95 in 2015, carried the Olympic torch in 2012, was awarded Portsmouth Volunteer of the Year in 2016 and was named National Museum and Heritage volunteer of the year in 2019.

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt said Mr Jenkins’ heroism was inspirational.

‘He was for many in the city a link to that generation who gave so much for our future,’ she told The News.

‘He was so involved in every aspect of what this city stood for and is known for.’