Name
Joseph William Leonard
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1924
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/9640
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
St Mark’s Church, Colney Heath
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, We are not aware of any memorial in Tyttenhanger Green
Pre War
Joseph was born in Tyttenhanger Green, Hertfordshire and lived in the seventh cottage away from The Plough.
He was working as a casual labourer in 1911.
Wartime Service
Joseph’s service record (dated 12th July 1911) records that he joined the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment “Special Reserve”, but later transferred to the Royal West Kent Regiment. His medal roll index card confirms that he was sent to “5a Asiatic” on 6th February 1915 – This would have been one of three possible countries: German East Africa, Nyasaland or Northern Rhodesia. He was discharged from the Army on 9th February 1916.
The following summarises these countries into their modern day contexts: * German East Africa – now modern day Burundi, Rwanda and Tanganyika * Nyasaland (British Protectorate at the time of WW1) – now modern day Malawi * Northern Rhodesia (British Protectorate at the time of WW1) – now modern day Zambia.
Colney Heath Parish records would appear to indicate that on his discharge from the Army Joseph was sent to the Hertford County Asylum at Hill End. The Colney Heath Funeral Register confirms that Joseph died in the asylum on August 5th 1924 and is buried in the new grave yard at St Mark’s Church, Colney Heath. Unfortunately the actual plot for Joseph is not recorded, however from the various records held by the church it is likely that his plot is somewhere along the hedge running adjacent to the gate and directly behind the Church Centre.
Additional Information
Not in the CWGC records
Acknowledgments
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild
