Mystery over Jennings family solved. Or is it?
THE mystery surrounding the death of former Forest player Sam Jennings, who was featured last week, has been solved by one of his relatives, John Thompson.
The striker did indeed perish in battle... but it was the town of Battle in Sussex, not in the war as some sources indicate!
And, as the death certificate clearly shows, he died from tuberculosis, not pneumonia or war wounds.
"My brother, who lives in Nottingham, has shown me your article headlined "Was Sam Jennings killed in the War" included in the Down Memory Lane feature," said Mr Thompson.
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"Sam Jennings was my great uncle on my mother's side of the family and my aunt often spoke of uncle Sam the footballer.
"As you say in your article some websites do report that Sam died in battle and people have concluded from this that he died of war wounds.
"He actually died in Darvel Hall Sanatorium at Robertsbridge, which is in the General Register Office (Births Marriages and Deaths) Registration District of Battle in Sussex (1066 and all that).
"He died on August 21, 1944 at the age of 46 from pulmonary tuberculosis.
"At the time of his death he was recorded as a Football Manager living at 68 Ewart Road, Nottingham."
Mr Thompson has also provided a copy of the birth certificate of Jennings' brother William.
"Your article also states that Sam's brother Billy was a footballer," said Thompson.
"I was unaware of this. Sam was one of 13 children and he did have a brother William eight years older than himself, born in 1891.
"The only thing I know about William is from the 1911 census when Sam was 12 and William 20.
"William was recorded as a coal miner (hewer), and both he and Sam were living at Broomhill Road, Bulwell.
"In 1919 when you say William (Billy) joined Norwich City he would have been 28, so I suppose it is possible, though it is very strange that my aunt never mentioned him.
"I would be grateful if you could let me know where this information came from so I can update my family history.
"To further add to the confusion about William/Billy Jennings and dates of birth etc. Wikipedia says Billy Jennings appears to have been born on February 25, 1893 in Barry, Wales (not February 14, 1891 in Cinderhill when my William Jennings was born).
"The Welsh Billy having the same birth date but reported as 1893 not 1891 seems too much of a coincidence. The plot thickens."
Mr Thompson has also submitted these pictures of Jennings that he found in his mother's photograph album.
There is a nostalgic one of him receiving the Berks & Bucks Charity Cup after Brighton beat Reading 1-0 at Elm Park on May 14, 1927.
But they have also thrown up two more mysteries. Who are the men in black?
And why is there an old picture in the album of a Notts County team from 1914-15 heading for Barcelona that doesn't appear to include Sam Jennings?
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