South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Campaign Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914 Star & Claps, British War & Victory Medals | Thiepval Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Bravery Medal | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 19 Sep 1914 in France | Military Medal - Gazetted on 19 Feb 1917 | Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Mobilised | |
| Battle of the Somme (Albert) | 5 August 1914 at Warwick | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| Thiepval | ||
Previous Military Service
- From his service number we believe that Leonard enlisted sometime around 1904/5
- He has two Medal cards and one shows him arriving in France on 19 Sep 1914 as a Private
Circumstances of Death
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Leonard is listed as being killed in action on 16 Jul 1916, the 11th Battalion war diary entries for the period 11th & 12th July 1916 are transcribed below. Battle of the Somme 10th July 1916: 1.30am: Battn ordered to push strong patrols to certain points immediately W of Contalmaison with a view to re-adjustment of our line. The III Bde on our left conforming. The operation was cancelled as it was daylight before orders which had to be carefully considered were ready for issue to OC Coys. Our position was heavily shelled all day. 4.30am: The 69th Bde assembled in our trenches & attacked Contalmaison from the W. The attack was preceeded by an intense bombardment. The village was succesfully carried. 5.00am: C Company proceeded to establish strong patrol posts on a line running SW of Contalmaison Wood in conjuction with the 13th R Bde (III Bde) on our left. The 13th R Bde was late making it impossible for C Coy to make good its objective owing to heavy machine gun & rifle fire from its front & left flanks. Two Officers and 50 OR's were sent from A Company to assist consolidation. C Coy lost officers 2nd Lt Kemsey Bourne killed, 2nd Lt Shrewing, 2nd Lt Webb wounded. Capt Routh of B coy was also wounded while assisting in the operations as he knew the ground. The 13th R.R. Bde could not make their ground good & lost heavily in the attempt. During the latters retirement our D Coy on the left of our line repulsed enemy's forces that followed the 13th R.R. Bde in their retirement, taking one unwounded prisoner. The lossed of the Battn throughout the day from heavy shell fire & the above action was considerable, D Coy especially was very heavily shelled but remained steady throughout. 2nd Lt Vokings was killed, also 2nd Lt Critchley (Batt Bombing Officer) & C.S. Major Canton. 10pm: The losses for the day were 3 officers and 6 Other Ranks killed; 3 officer and 34 Other Ranks wounded; 6 other ranks missing. Battle of the Somme 11th July 1916 - 6am: Relieved by the 10 L N [Loyal North] Lancs Regt & returned to Tara-Usna Ridge. During the night a very heavy artillery action about our front in the region of Thiepval. No rest Battle of the Somme 12th July 1916: Heavy artillery action throughout the day. A 150mm shell hit C Coy Field Kitchen killing 3 of its cooks and a Pioneer. Battalion moved from bivouacs to trenches near for the night. END |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jul Qtr 1888 at Warwick | 7 May 1889 at Quinton |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Thomas C (stepfather) and Emily Coop nee Smith | 45 Brook Street, Warwick |
| Wife and Marriage Details | Children |
| Ethel Charlotte Smith nee Frost later Piper | Leonard George born 19 Feb 1916 |
| Apr Qtr 1915 at Lambeth | |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Westgate Boys, Warwick | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1889 - Lower Quinton | 1901 - Scholar |
| 1891 - 42 Mill Street, Warwick | 1911 - Royal Warwickshire Regiment? |
| 1901 - 5 Joyce Pool, Warwick | |
| 1911 - Royal Warwickshire Regiment Barracks? | |
| 1916 - 12 Gladstone Terrace, West Norwood |
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