Name
Leonard Cornelius Prior
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
10666
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth
Pre War
Leonard was the son of George and Elizabeth Prior, of 5 Springhall Rd., Sawbridgeworth, Herts. He was born in 1890. He was also the Great-Grandson of John Prior who owned the ‘King of Prussia’ Inn from 1796 until 1829.
He worked as an ‘Engineer’s Assistant’ and was a resident of Sawbridgeworth, Herts. when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Leonard joined the 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. This was a ‘Kitchener’ Service Battalion, raised in August 1914.
Following Home training, on the 30 July 1915, the
Battalion landed at Le Havre in France. After serving on quiet sectors at Ypres
and Loos, in 1916, the Battalion was moved to the area of the Somme in
preparation for the coming offensive. The Battalion went into action on St.
Swithun’s day, 15 July 1916. On this day, the Battalion assaulted Pozieres as
part of the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, itself part of the Somme offensive.
Tragically, the Battalion lost 330 men that day (approximately 50% casualties).
One of those who died on 15 July 1916 was Leonard Prior. He was aged 26.
His body ws lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Douglas Coe
