Name
Leonard Wiseman
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/03/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/17257
Royal Sussex Regiment
C Coy. 13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 46 and 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Marlowes Baptist Church, Marlowes, St John the Evangelist Memorial Church, Boxmoor
Pre War
Leonard Wiseman was born in 1898 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Samuel and Mary Wiseman and one of nine children.
His father died the year he was born, aged 40, and on the 1901 Census, he and his widowed mother and 6 siblings were living at 108 Cotterells Road, Hemel Hempstead, along with his grandmother. His mother was working as a charwoman and two of his older siblings were working at the local Paper Factory.
By 1911 they had moved to 3 Victoria Terrace, Albion Hill, Hemel Hempstead. Five of his siblings remained living at home, all working at the Paper Mill, while 12 year old Leonard was a scholar. He left school later the same year.
Wartime Service
Leonard enlisted in Watford in November 1916, joined the Essex Regiment (reg.no.34684), and went for training at Felixstowe with the 13th Battalion. He was sent to France and joined his Regiment on 7 June 1917. He fought at Cambrai later in the year and, following the disbandment of his Regiment, he was transferred to the to the 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
He then saw action in the German Spring Offensive when the 13th Battalion suffered severe losses, losing over three quarters of the Battalion strength.
Leonard was declared missing, presumed killed in action at the Somme on 26 March 1918, Age 19. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £9 2s 9d. She also received a pension of 9 shillings a week from 10 December 1918. His brother Harry who served with the Royal Field Artillery died in 1920 probably as result of his army service, but is not named on the Hemel Hempstead Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
