Name
Leslie Warren Wreford
10 May 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 52.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
East Barnet Valley Memorial, New Barnet, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Memorial, Chipping Barnet, St James the Great Church Memorial, Friern Barnet, NatWest Bank, Hemel Hempstead
Pre War
Leslie Warren Wreford was born on 10 May 1894 in Barnet, Middlesex, the son of John and Eveline Wreford and one of eight children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census he was listed as a visitor with his older sister Ada at the home of Maria Mary Salter at 50 Church Street, Brighton, Sussex. His parents were then residing at The Laurels, Henry Road, East Barnet.
By 1911 he was living with his parents, four siblings and one servant, at Glenham, Station Road, New Barnet where his father was working as a hosiers manager. Leslie started work at the London County & Westminster Bank in May 1911, five days after his 17th birthday. He was working as a Clerk at the Berkhamsted branch at the time of enlistment.
His father died in late 1915 and on the medal index card his brother J B [John Bertram] Wreford was given as next of kin and living at Hadleigh, Cromer Road, New Barnet. Herts.
Wartime Service
He initially served as a Private with the Rifle Brigade (Territorial Force) and arrived in France on 16 March 1915. He was later granted a commission and served as 2nd Lieutenant with the 4th Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Leslie was killed in action on 16 August 1917, aged 22. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother obtained probate of his estate in London on 7 September 1918 with effects of £245 18s 7d. She received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £70 14 3d.
Brothers William and Charles both died in France in 1915 and 1916 respectively. Brother John Bertram served with the Honourable Artillery Company and survived the war. He was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service on 18 January 1918.
Leslie is one of two employees of the London County, Westminster & Parr's Bank, Berkhamsted branch, who are named on a WW1 plaque which was originally located at Berkhamsted, but now can be found in the Hemel Hempstead branch of NatWest Bank.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.natwestgroupremembers.com
