Bill Jenkins Royal Marines officer

Captain William Glyn Jenkins (28 March 1925 – 24 October 2002) was a Royal Marines officer and academic. He became the youngest Royal Marine to win the Distinguished Service Order during World War II. Born in Morpeth, Northumberland, Jenkins attended Blundell's School before winning a scholarship to Hertford College, Oxford, where he studied geography until joining the Royal Marines in August 1943 due to medical rejection by the Royal Navy.

Commissioned in early 1944, Jenkins served with No. 43 Commando, supporting Tito’s partisans on Vis and conducting raids against German garrisons. In October 1944, his unit landed near Dubrovnik as part of Floydforce, engaging retreating Germans inland. In January 1945, they moved to Italy, participating in Operation Roast during the Eighth Army's spring offensive. Jenkins led both 'D' and 'E' Troops after their commanders were wounded, capturing several German soldiers despite being injured twice. His bravery earned him the Distinguished Service Order at age 20.

After the war, Jenkins served with 42 Commando in Hong Kong, became captain, and was demobilized in 1946. He completed his degree at Oxford, captained his college rugby team, studied at Yale on a Henry Fellowship, taught at Christ's Hospital and Hilton College, and later became a senior lecturer in international affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.