Name
James Leaning
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
269398
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
James was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire in 1897 to Samuel Leaning, fisherman, and Esther (nee Omond). The family were living at Olive Street, Grimsby.
In 1901 James’ father died and on the 1901 Census the family (Mother, james & two elder Brothers) were at Burgess Street, Grimsby. On the 1911 census they were living at Breadcroft, Harpenden. James was listed as an errand boy.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 9366. (He may have originally attested as 6353 Essex Regiment but confirmation is lacking). The Territorial Force soldiers were given new service numbers in 1917 and James became Private 269398. James went missing on 31 Jul 1917 during the Hertfordshires attack at St Julien Ypres on the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele.
The 1st Hertfordshire Battalion were in support of an attack on the Langemarck Line and a general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July and and the planned assault began. It had three objectives to achieve known as Blue, Black & Green and units of the 116th Brigade easily captured the first two objectives, preparing the way for the forward companies of the Hertfordshire battalion, to take the third objective. At 05.00am the Hertfordshires left their assembly positions to attack their objective, which lay over the crest of a ridge.
As they made their way forward they came under heavy fire from both German machine guns and snipers but after eliminating a German strongpoint moved up towards St. Juliaan, which was only lightly held. The battalion crossed the Steenbeek with some difficulty and two of its supporting Tanks became bogged down in the mud. Things then went from bad to worse. A pre-arranged artillery barrage never materialised due to the guns being unable to move forward over the muddy terrain and the German barbed wire defences, which were fifteen feet deep in some places, were found to still be intact. It was soon realised that ground could only be won by section " rushes" supported by the unit’s own fire.
The Cheshire Regiment were on the right of the battalion but the Black Watch, who were due to cover the left flank, had been seriously delayed. This left the Hertfordshire Regiment seriously exposed and the Germans exploited this by bringing a hurricane of fire down upon the stricken troops. This was followed by a German counter-attack and by 10.30am it was clear that the objective could not be achieved. Casualties were very heavy with 459 men being killed, missing or wounded.
His remains were recovered and his death was presumed. He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £5 and arrears of £2 10s 8d paid to his brothers.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
