Name
Edward Francis Leete
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/05/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
371573
London Regiment *1
1st/8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Watford Post Office Memorial,
St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Therfield,
Therfield, Non-conformist Chapel, Therfield
Pre War
Son of Edward Francis and Rebecca (nee Green) Leete of Therfield, Herts.
His parents married 1883 in the Oundle, Northants, district. Edward died 26 March 1943 in Therfield aged 80; Rebecca died 1939 in the Royston, Herts, district aged 81.
Edward was born 1884 in Foxton, Cambs, and resided in Watford. He was appointed Assistant Postman Watford November 1910, Postman R Watford August 1911, and Postman Watford May 1912.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 he lived at Payne End in Sandon, Herts, with his father described as a dealer/shop, his mother Rebecca and three siblings: Elizabeth E. 6, Percy J, 2 and baby Maud.
The family moved to Therfield, from Sandon, Herts. sometime after 1891 and before 1901.
On the 1901 Census Edward F. (senior) was now a pork butcher living at Grooms Yard, Therfield with Rebecca and 6 children. Robert, 8, Ruby 6 and Ernest 4 had been born but Edward Francis (junior) was missing his was a baker aged 17 he was a boarder in Enfield, Middx.
Edward (junior) originally attested 9 April 1901 in London for Short Service (seven years with the Colours, five years with the Reserves) giving his age as 18 and his occupation as a baker. He joined the Gloucestershire regiment: a baker aged 18, 5’3″ tall, C of E.
He was in training in UK from 9 April 1901 until 28 May 1902, when he left for South Africa (clearing up operations after the Boer War) and was there until 13 January 1904 when he sailed to India and extended his service to complete eight years with the Colours and he stayed in India until 5 March 1909 and was transferred to the Reserves 8 April 1909 and discharged on 8 Apr 1913 after 12 years’ service.
In 1911 he was living as a boarder with the Dolomore family at 59 Estcourt Road, Watford and working as a postman.
Wartime Service
Edward enlisted again in Watford when war broke out (originally 3824 before renumbering) and he didn’t go over to France until 14 December 1915.
He had enlisted with another local lad from Rushden, Frederick Knights, in the 1/8th Battalion London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) His roll no. was Rifleman 3824 at first becoming 371573 according to the medal rolls index. His parents would have been sent the 1915 star and War and Victory medals as well as the Memorial Plaque after the war.
The history of the Post Office Rifles has been written and from it we can deduce that during early 1916 the battalion got into a pattern of 4 days in the front line, 4 days in support then 4 days in 47th. Divisional reserve in the area of the Zouave Valley north west of Vimy Ridge, France. They had a hard time taking over the dilapidated trenches in an area much fought over in 1915 by the French. Much work was needed to improve them but this sector remained fairly quiet until the end of April when, because of the winter activities underground preparing tunnels and saps in preparation for another bout of mine warfare, explosions began.
His 47th Division was due to go on a month’s leave but this all changed and orders were given to take over the trenches of the 25th Division by May 19th which put the Post Office Rifles in the front line. On 20th a bombardment began which grew in intensity on May 21st when over 400 men were killed or wounded.
Edward was killed in this dreadful encounter and his body was unidentified so his name, alongside 35,000 others is on the Arras Memorial in the Faubourg-D’Amiens Cemetery .
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 14 December 1915,
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Edward in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 13 January 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 26 May 1917, 25 May 1918 and 17 May 1919.
His brother, Percy Leete, also fought in WW1 and survived. Father of Peter Leete of Hoops Lane, Therfield.
Edward's grave in not a CWGC.
*1 More correctly (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox. Jean Handley, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
