Charles Edward Jeakins

Rank:

Chaplain

Unit at enlistment:

58th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

West Yorkshire

Birth city:

Dewsbury

Address at enlistment:

79 Peel Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

398 Elm Street, Westmount, Quebec

Trade or calling:

Chaplain

Employer:

St. Jude's Anglican Church

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX May 20, 1916

Captain Charles Edward Jeakins Has Nerve Strain

Owing to nerve strain Chaplain (Capt.) Charles Edward Jeakins of the Ninth Brigade has been obliged to relinquish his position. He will take up the work of an English hospital chaplain for the time being. Capt. Jeakins is the rector of St. Jude’s Anglican Church. He left Brantford on August 24, 1915 to join the 58th Battalion, which had left for Niagara in June.

BX August 18, 1916

Reverend Charles Edward Jeakins Returning Home

Captain (Rev.) Charles Edward Jeakins, formerly chaplain of the 58th Battalion, was among a party of 50 officers and 220 N.C.O.s and men who arrived in Quebec last night from Halifax, where they landed on Wednesday. Owing to the fact that he was suffering severely from nervous trouble and shell shock Captain Jeakins was sent back to England some time ago and since that time he has been engaged in hospital work at Epsom. His many friends will be pleased to welcome him back to Brantford.

BX September 12, 1916

Captain Charles Edward Jeakins Given Receptions – Returned Home Invalided From Overseas Service Owing to Breakdown – A Warm Welcome

Invalided home from the front, suffering from a nervous breakdown Capt. (Rev.) C.E. Jeakins, chaplain of the 58th Battalion, arrived back in the city last evening at 7.32 and was accorded a most enthusiastic reception both at the G.T.R. station and later at St. Jude’s rectory, 79 Peel Street.

Members of the Ministerial Association, the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, and civic officials and upwards of 100 of his friends and parishioners were at the station when the train pulled in. His appearance was loudly cheered and then a procession of about ten automobiles lined up and started down Market Street.

The reception proper was held on the lawn at St. Jude’s rectory and the automobiles wended their way there. At the house Ald. John S. Dowling, chairman of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, introduced Captain Jeakins, Mayor Bowlby, on behalf of the city, and Rev. Llewellyn Brown for the Ministerial Association. Both spoke briefly, welcoming him back to Brantford.

Although very optimistic, in a brief reply Capt. Jeakins spoke of the great need of men. He was, he said, very disappointed when he landed at Quebec to see so many eligible men who had not heeded the call. In his opinion there was no doubt that things were coming the way of the Allies, but there was still a great need for all the men that could be secured.

The welcome home to Capt. Jeakins was brought to a fitting finish by the spirited singing of the National Anthem, following a few remarks by Rev. T.B. Jeakins, father of the returned hero, who has had charge of the parish during his absence of the past year.

BX August 26, 1915

Reverend Charles Edward Jeakins Now Chaplain of the 58th – Rector of St. Jude’s for the Front – The Popular, efficient and Earnest Clergyman Answers the Call of God, King and Empire, and will go with Lieutenant-Colonel Genet’s Command, Now at Niagara-on-the-Lake Camp, When it Leaves for Old Land

In response to the call of God, King and Empire, Rev. C.E. Jeakins, rector of St. Jude’s Anglican Church, has decided to temporarily give up his charge in this city and go on active service. His appointment as chaplain of Lieutenant Colonel Harry Augustus Genet’s command, the 58th Battalion, now encamped at Niagara-on-the-Lake, has been confirmed by militia headquarters at Ottawa, and Rev. Mr. Jeakins will be granted the honorary rank of captain. Although definite orders have not yet been received, the reverend gentleman expects to leave for Niagara within a few days, not, however, before he delivers a parting word to his people on Sunday next.

Reverend Mr. Jeakins was called to St. Jude’s church, Brantford, in the month of January, 1914, coming to this city from Clinton. He was a gold medalist of the Diocesan College, McGill University, in the class of 01, securing his degree of Bachelor of Arts, at that time, and in 1907 his degree of Bachelor of Divinity, by examination. After serving several years in the Diocese of Montreal, Rev. Mr. Jeakins was called to London, where for two years he presided as professor of divinity at Huron College. His next charge brought him to Clinton, where he remained for a short time, prior to his coming to this city in 1914.

During his sojourn in Brantford, Rev. Mr. Jeakins has grown inestimably in the respect, not only of the members of the congregation, but of every class and calling in the city. He has proven himself a powerful speaker and is claimed to have worked wonders in St. Jude’s Anglican Church. Every inch a man, and exemplifying the highest type of Christian manhood in his daily life, Rev. Mr. Jeakins has now undertaken a further test of his truest mettle by sacrificing all that is dear to him in answer to the call of his King and Country.

Rev. Mr. Jeakins was in London yesterday and secured the permission of Bishop Williams of the Diocese of Huron to his going on active service, and it is expected that, at a vestry meeting which will be called on Friday of next week, Rev. Mr. Jeakins will be granted leave of absence during the war, and arrangements completed for a temporary appointment to the rector of St. Jude’s church. Mrs. Jeakins and her son, Reginald, will leave shortly for Montreal, where Mrs. Jeakins’ parents reside, and they will remain there during his absence.

BX March 21, 1917

Captain Charles Edward Jeakins Heads Veterans – Local Returned Officer Honored by Soldiers Who Have Returned

At a meeting of returned soldiers from all parts of Ontario yesterday at the Great War Veterans’ Club on Carlton Street, Toronto, it was decided unanimously to call themselves the Great War Veterans’ Association of Canada. A Dominion conference of the association will be held at Winnipeg on May 22, 24 and 25.

The following officers were elected for the Ontario Branch: President, Captain (Rev.) C.E. Jeakins, Brantford; Vice President W.R. Whitton, Toronto; 2nd Vice President, Captain K.C. McPherson, Ottawa; Secretary, W.E. Turley, Toronto; Treasurer, W.J. Addy, St. Catharines; Committee, W.M. Rabow, Hamilton; J.K. Shaunahan, Toronto; L.E. Lowman, Woodstock; P. Victor, Peterborough.

BX August 20, 1918

Lieutenant John Whitehead Jeakins, brother of Captain Charles Edward Jeakins, chaplain of the 58th Battalion and president of the Provincial Great War Veterans Association, was wounded on Aug. 8 the day of the first big advance. No particulars of the nature of his injuries have reached his parents in Montreal. Lieut. Jeakins enlisted as a private in the P.P.C.L.I. University Company at Montreal, and went oversees in June, 1915. He went to France as a lance-corporal three months later. He won the military medal at Sanctuary Wood on June 2, 1916 for his gallantry and initiative in taking charge of his platoon after the other officers and non-coms had been killed or wounded. He was wounded by shrapnel in the back on the following day. Upon his return to the front he was recommended for his commission which he received in June 1917. He was recently appointed assistant adjutant of the Princess Pats.

Lieutenant Jeakins’ other brother, William Bond Jeakins, formerly with the Molson’s bank Toronto, enlisted and went overseas in the 173rd Highlanders Battalion. A letter dispatch announces that Lieutenant William Bond Jeakins has returned to duty.

BX May 27, 1940

Final Tributes Paid to Dean C.E. Jeakins – Impressive Funeral Service for Late Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Ont., who for 18 Years Was Rector of St. Jude’s Church, Here – Throngs of Citizens March Past Bier Guarded by Boy Scouts.

Impressive funeral services attended by prominent members of the Anglican clergy and laity, as well as clergy of other communions and representative leaders from all branches of public life, were held for Very Rev. Charles E. Jeakins, Dean of Huron and Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Ont., on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Cathedral where Dean Jeakins had served as Rector for five and a half years.

Long before the hour of service, the cathedral was filled to capacity by members of the congregation, friends and official representatives. Earlier in the day a steady stream of citizens who had undergone a personal loss in Dean Jeakins’ death passed by the bier which was guarded by two Boy Scouts.

Bishop Seager

A singular ability to commend the Church of God to public consciousness without lessening the church’s ideals and aims was the crowing feature of Dean Jeakins’ life of service, declared Bishop Seager, who spoke the funeral oration.

It would be easy to speak in appreciation of that life of ministry and service with which this diocese and church was blessed so long; it would be easy to recount how, in his early days, Dean Jeakins became intellectually, morally and spiritually equipped for the wide influence for God and for good, which we knew throughout his years of service, but our hearts are heavy and distressed in the midst of his great sorrow and loss.

Serious Losses

“It is true that Christian sorrow is always tempered by a thankfulness to God for making possible such a great life. Nevertheless, our sorrow is made real and heavy because of so many losses throughout the diocese, such men as Archdeacons Sage, Andrew Perkins and now Dean Jeakins.”

Declaring that the world was in great need of leaders, Bishop Seager asked that the ranks of the living might accept the challenge and strive to equip themselves through labor, study and a sympathy and understanding of the world’s troubles so as to take up the place of those who now are gone.

“He, whom we honor here today, had so carefully developed intellectually and was so able to both teach and administer, that he gained a sympathetic contact with his fellow man that resulted in a singular ability to carry the church to the rank and file of people without adding or detracting from the church. God takes His servants but the work goes on, and the challenge to the ranks of the living to equip themselves so as to fil the vacant places of such leaders must be met,” said His Lordship.

Later as the casket was carried from the cathedral, preceded by the choir softly chanting the Nunc Dimittis, Anglican Clergy, representative laymen, and members of the London Ministerial Association, of which Dan Jeakins was president, crowds of Londoners, many of whom had been unable to gain entrance to the church, stood with bowed heads in tribute to one of the district’s most prominent churchmen.

Assisting Clergy

Assisting Bishop Seager in the services were: Rev. Dr. C.C. Waller, Principal of Huron College; Archdeacon P.N. Harding, Rector of All Saints’ Church, Windsor; Canon W.A. Townsend, Commissioner of the Diocese; Canon A.A. Rice, Rector of All Saints’ Church, London and members of the Cathedral Chapter, which is composed of archdeacons and canons of the dioceses. Acting as the bishops’ chaplains were Canon W.H. Snelgrove, of St. James’ Church, St. Mary’s and Rev. Kenneth E. Taylor of St. John’s Church, St. Thomas.

Included in the processional were pallbearers and honorary pallbearers, the church wardens, representatives of the London Ministerial Association and over 75 Anglican clergy. From 9 o’clock in the morning until 1 o’clock in the afternoon, Dean Jeakins lay in state before the chancel steps surrounded by banks of flowers and a guard of honor comprised of members of the Ninth Boy Scout Troop of St. Paul’s Cathedral, in charge of Scoutmaster W.R. Conlbear and Assistant Master Jack Peters.

The honorary pallbearers were: Archdeacon A.L.G. Clarke, Grace Church, Brantford; Archdeacon W. J. Doherty, Canon Quintin Warner, Canon T.G. Wallace, all of London and representing the clergy of the diocese, and P.D. Mitchell, McClary Moore, Col. Innes Carling and Col. Walter Brown, all of London and representing the laymen.

The active bearers were members of the Board of Management of St. Paul’s Cathedral and included Charles Nichols, E.W.B. Eardly, Hugh Smith, J.A.E. Braden, K.C., Chester H. Mathewson, Joseph D. Isaacs, F.G. McAllister and T.W. Benson.

Interment was in Woodland Cemetery, London, Ont., where the committal and collect were given by Rev. W.E.V. McMillen, Rector of Trinity Church, Simcoe and the blessing pronounced by Bishop Seager.

Memorial Service

Honoring the memory of one who had, for a period of 18 years, given spiritual leadership in the parish, members of the congregation of St. Jude’s Church Sunday evening at tended in large numbers a memorial service for the late Very Rev. Charles E. Jeakins, Dean of Huron and Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Ont. Who passed away suddenly Thursday evening.

An old friend and fellow cleric, Ven. Archdeacon A.L.G. Clarke, Rector of Grace Church, was the special speaker and, in the course of a brief but eloquent address, paid stirring tribute to the late Dean. Eulogizing on his many capabilities, the Archdeacon said in part: “Here in St. Jude’s Church he held a position of leadership and after he left he rose to the highest position, excepting that of Bishop in the Diocese of Huron.

“Dean Jeakins was a keen student and was always abreast of the times. He was a studious reader and a brilliant cleric. His ministry among men was a notable one, and his influence in fraternal, military and young people’s circles was distinguished by many worthwhile deeds. In the passing of the Dean the church has suffered a great loss and too many of you here tonight the loss is a personal one. He was a truly courageous man for, in spite of ill health, he labored on with unabated energy and resourcefulness.”

The Archdeacon touched briefly on the funeral service held Saturday in the Cathedral in London, Ont. Which was attended by “a thoroughly representative congregation.” He told also of the Bishop’s personal tribute to the late Dean and of his work in the Diocese of Huron.

The regular choir was augmented by choristers who had been in the unit during the Dean’s Rectorship at St. Jude’s, and the lessons were read by Joseph Broadbent and J.L. Dixon. Appropriate hymns were sun and as an anthem the choir sang “Souls of the Righteous” (Noble). The 23rd Psalm was also sung. Rev. F.W. Schaffter, Rector of St. Jude’s had charge of the service. Mrs. W.H. Fair was at the console.