Jennings, John Thomas (Private, b.1878 - d. 1968)

Collection relating to the Boer War service of No. 15 Private John Thomas "Jack" Jennings, 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, 1900. Jennings served in South Africa from 1899 to 1900 as part of the first contingent of men sent from Victoria to fight in the Boer War. The collection includes a letter, dated 3 April 1900, Jennings received from a friend, T.E. Lilleyman, in Perth. Lilleyman thanks Jennings for sending him a vivid and descriptive letter on the war, which Lilleyman found of such interest that he shared the contents with colleagues and had the letter published in the West Australian newspaper. The letter also discusses other military contingents that have left the Australian colonies for South Africa, "the girls in Cape Town", singing patriotic songs, and cricket.

Following the war, Jennings pursued business interests and was active in ex-service organisations. In 1931 he was elected to the Australian parliament, representing South Sydney (1931-1934) and, later, Watson (1934-1940) for the United Australia Party. In 1938, Jennings made official enquiries regarding the repatriation benefits for servicemen of the Boer War and was involved in a campaign for incapacitated Boer War veterans to received benefits equal to those accorded to returned servicemen of the First World War. The collection includes two letters Jennings received from the Minister for Health and Repatriation, Harry Foll, and one from the office of the Premier of New South Wales in response to his enquiries.

Included with the collection are transcripts of two 1900 newspaper articles, both of which reproduce material from Jennings' letter to Lilleyman.