Name
Leonard Anderson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
33586
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Markyate memorials, Not on the Flamstead memorials, Book of Remembrance, Luton
Pre War
Leonard Anderson was born in 1889 in Flamstead (baptised 28 Jul 1889 in Markyate) to Frederick Anderson , straw hat blocker, and Annie (nee Slough).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents and Leonard were living at London Road, Flamstead.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Leonard, Hilda (born 1895) and Arthur (born 1898) were living at 92, Hastings Road, Luton. Leonard’s father was listed as a straw hat manufacturer.
On the 1911 Census the family were still living at Hastings Road. Leonard was a straw hat blocker, Hilda and her mother were straw hat machinists and Arthur was still at school.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Leonard, he enlisted in Bedfordshire Yeomanry as Private 2127. At some time he transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 33586.
Leonard was posted to 1st Battalion of the Regiment who were in 15 Brigade of 5 Division. He may have with them for the Battles of the Somme in 1916 High Wood (20-25 Jul), Guillemont (3-6 Sep), Flers-Courcelette (15-23 Sep), Morval ( 25-28 Sep). Following this they were transferred to the Vimy Sector for the Arras Offensive to take part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9-14 Apr 1917) and the Attack on La Coulette. It was during this last attack on 23 Apr 1917 that Leonard was killed in action, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of£6 and arrears of £3 9s 9d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
