Robert James Jeanpierre

This story is shared with the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Photo source: Tootingville, FindaGrave.com

Robert Jeanpierre was born on the 6 March 1917, the son of Paul Fernand Jeanpierre and Ada Jeanpierre (née Venner) who had married in the Church of St. John The Divine, Kennington, Vassall Road, Lambeth on the 3rd of October 1908. Paul Fernand Jeanpierre, 30, of 11, Elfin Road, was working as a Porter. His father was Annable Pierre Jeanpierre, a Superintendent on the Railway. Ada Venner, 24, of the same adress was working as a Dressmaker. Her father was John Edward Venner, (deceased), a French Polisher.

The young couple are seen on the 1911 census, living at 125 Princes Road, Lambeth, London. Paul Jeanpierre, 33, is head of the household and a Night Porter Boots (Hotel). He was a French national, born in St. Dizier, France and was a resident, rather than visitor, at the time of the census. Ada Jeanierre, 25, was born in London and 1 child, Paul Alfred, had been born on the 20th December 1909.

Paul Jeanpierre returned to France to fight in WW1. He served in C Battery, 4th Regiment of Artillery. The British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers' Medical Records tell us he was admitted to the 4th Stationary Hospital, Argues on the 3rd November 1918 with Influenza and Epididimite (sic) (Epididmyis). The Spanish Flu was rife in Europe in 1918 but he would recover and was discharged back for duty on the 23rd of November 1918.

The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19^th of June 1921, shows the family now living at 18, Methley Street, Kennington, Lambeth, London and it had grown.   Paul Fernand Jeanpierre, 33, was working as a Luggage Porter at the Carlton Hotel in Pall Mall and Ada Jeanpierre was doing Home Duties. Their children, Paul Alfred Jeanpierre, 11 years and 6 months old, Ada Amelia Elizabeth Jeanpierre, 8 years and 11 months old and Robert James Jeanpierre, 4 years and 4 months old, had all been born in Kennington, London. Ada Amelia Elizabeth Jeanpierre had been baptised Ada Jessie Amelia on the 18th of August 1912, the same day that Paul Alfred Jeanpierre was baptised. The name of Jessie is presumably after the mother of Ada Jeanpierre.

The Carlton Hotel was a luxury hotel in London that operated from 1899 to 1940. The Carlton was originally run by the Swiss hotelier César Ritz, with Auguste Escoffier as the head chef. In its early days it was one of London's most fashionable hotels and drew some customers away from the Savoy Hotel, which Ritz and Escoffier had previously managed.

The family were bereaved in 1924 when Paul Fernand Jeanpierre died in the October-December quarter of 1924 in the Lambeth registration district, aged 47 years. I believe that in the December quarter of 1933, Robert's sister, Ada, married James W. Fuller in the Southwark registration district.

1939 Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, 26 days after WW2 was declared, shows that Robert Jeanpierre was still living at 18 Methley Street, Kennington, Lambeth with his widowed mother. She was working as an Office Cleaner and he was working as a Painter. The 1939 Register also records that his brother, Paul was living nearby at 12 Methley Street with his wife, Amy. He was working as a Food Processor & Spice Preservative Manufacturer and two records are redacted which suggests they had two children.  His sister, Ada and her husband, James were living at 29 Claylands Road, Oval, Lambeth. He was a Taxi Driver and Ada Amelia was doing Unpaid Domestic Duties. One record is redacted which suggests they too had a child.

I do not know when Robert Jeanpierre was to enlist or was conscripted but he was to find himself fighting in the Battle of Normandy and laid down his life for our freedom. He was serving with 12th (Airborne) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment which landed in France D-Day – one company by glider, the rest by sea. On its first full night in Normandy the battalion suffered 3 killed and 16 wounded from enemy mortar and aircraft attacks. On 9 June 1944 the 12th Battalion area was attacked by German tanks and infantry but held its positions. Later on 13 June, D Coy with the remnants of the 12th Para Bn attacked and secured Breville, after two attacks by a battalion of the Black Watch had failed.

The British Army Casualty List records Robert as having been wounded but it does not state on which date. He was evacuated back to the UK and was sent to St. Luke’s Hospital, Bradford, where he died on the 21st of June 1944. His body was taken to his hometown and he was buried in Streatham Park Cemetery, London Borough of Lambeth. He is commemorated on the memorial screen wall in the cemetery.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Robert Jeanpierre. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Robert, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.