Name
Jack Leonard
31 Jul 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/09/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
TF/1612
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
1st/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar
Pre War
Jack Leonard was born in Little Heath, on 31 July 1895. Baptised at Christ Church 25 August 1895. Youngest son of Arthur Leonard, a railway signalman, and Esther (nee Faulkner) of 3 Heath Cottages, Little Heath. He was a member of 1st Little Heath Scout Troop.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, William (born 1884), Henceman (born 1886), Alfred (born 1889) Maud (born 1893) and Jack were living at Little Heath.
On the 1911 census Jack was a railway booking clerk and living with William Chalkley, a railway inspector, (his uncle) and aunt Emma in Board Street,Bradford.
Jack attested on 5 Jun 1912 at Barnet as Private 1612 in Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment in 1/7th Battalion. He attended Territorial Force summer training at Falmer in 1912 and Eastbourne in 1913.
Wartime Service
Jack’s Battalion was mobilised for War Service on 4 Aug 1914 and posted to Gibraltar from 4 Sep 1914 to 14 Feb 1915.
Following a return to UK embarked from Southampton and landed in France at Le Havre, 12 Mar 1915 to become part of 23 Brigade 8 Division, taking part in the Battle of Aubers (9 May 1915).
Jack was promoted to Lance Corporal on 24 Jun 1915. His battalion was posted on 8 Feb 1916 to 167 Brigade 56 (London) Division. Jack was admitted to Hospital for an injury to his foot 16-19 Mar 1916. He was promoted to Corporal on 7 Apr 1916.
He was wounded in action on 29 Jun 1916 during the diversionary operation of Gommecourt]. He returned to his unit on 5 Jul 1916. Jack was killed in action on 16 Sep 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which saw the first use of tanks and was the 7th major offensive of the Battle of the Somme. His mother received a letter from a soldier saying that Jack was wounded and had been left in a shell hole. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £10 and arrears of £6 5s 10d was paid to his mother Esther.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope
