Chapter LI: Part 51
=LAMBERT, STAMFORD LEIGH=, Private, No. 2106, 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (R.F.), 29th Division, 4th _s._ of John Lambert, of 86, Chesterton Road, Cambridge, late Postmaster of that town, by his wife, Annie M., dau. of John Mostock; _b._ Lincoln, 10 Sept. 1890; educ. Perse School, and Training ship Worcester; served in the Milne and Ellerman and Bucknall S.S. lines as 3rd officer; joined the 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance, 28 Sept. 1914; left for the Dardanelles with the 29th Division, 21 March 1915; was present at Beach W., Gallipoli, during the landing on 25 April and following days, at the actions of 24 June and 4 July, near Krithia and Gully Ravine, and at the Aug. landing at Suvla Bay, and the subsequent operations, and was killed in action at Suvla Bay, 26 Aug. 1915. Buried Suvla; _unm._ On the day preceding his death his name was sent up for mention in Despatches for his work during the campaign. One of his officers wrote: “He was a brave, fearless fellow, one of the best boys we had in my section.” And another: “Voicing the opinion of the whole corps, he was one of the most popular men, ready to assist in anything which was required, and to help anybody who was in trouble.”
=LAMBERT, STEPHEN HENRY=, Private, R.M.L.I., Po. 10268, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LAMBRE, JOHN=, Chief Shipwright, 344348, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAMKIN, CHARLES AMBROSE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7786), S.S. 103257, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAMONT, HENRY McCUAIG=, Private, No. 9410, D Coy., 1st Battn. The Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.), 2nd _s._ of John Lamont, of 125, Norfolk Street, Glasgow, by his wife, Maggie, dau. of Henry McCuaig, of Queensland, formerly of Islay; _b._ Port Ellen, Kildalton, Islay, 18 April, 1888; educ. Kinning Park Public School, Glasgow; enlisted, in Oct. 1906, and served seven years with the Colours and then passed into the Reserve, and obtained employment in the G.P.O., but on the outbreak of war rejoined his regt.; left for France with the Expeditionary Force (9th Brigade, 3rd Division), and was killed in action at the Battle of Le Cateau, 26 Aug. following.
=LAMPARD, TOM SAMUEL=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111443 (Ports.), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LANCHBURY, ALFRED=, Sergt., No. 5402, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 2nd _s._ of Alfred Lanchbury, of 81, Grange Road, Longford, near Coventry, by his wife, Sarah Ann, dau. of James Blackford; _b._ Coventry, 13 April, 1883; educ. Foxford Council School; enlisted 19 Feb. 1904; appointed L.-Corpl. 29 Nov. 1905; Corpl. 1 Jan. 1907; L.-Sergt. 24 Sept. 1907, and Sergt. 5 Feb. 1913; served in Egypt, 6 Jan. 1909, to 23 March, 1911, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 12 Aug. 1914, to 27 Sept. 1915, on which day he was killed in action, near Vermellen, during the Battle of Loos. He _m._ in London, 3 Oct., Ida Margaret (33, St. Thomas Road, Longford, Coventry), dau. of Frederick (and Margaret) Simmonds, and had three children: Donald Crawford, _b._ 4 June, 1913; Norah Ida, _b._ 15 Sept. 1909: and Muriel Rosamund, _b._ 15 Nov. 1914. His brother, L.-Sergt. W. C. Lanchbury, was also killed in action (see following notice).
=LANCHBURY, WILLIAM CHARLES=, L.-Sergt., No. 8711, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 4th _s._ of Alfred Lanchbury, of 81, Grange Road, Longford, near Coventry, co. Warwick, by his wife, Sarah Ann, dau. of James Blackford (see preceding notice); _b._ Longford aforesaid, 9 Oct. 1889; educ. Foxford Council School; enlisted 28 April, 1910; appointed L.-Corpl. 9 Jan. 1912; Corpl. 21 Aug. 1913, and L.-Sergt. 7 Aug. 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, 12 Aug. 1914; and was reported wounded and missing after the fighting on the 25th of that month during the retreat from Mons; and is now assumed to have been killed in action that day; _unm._
=LANCHESTER, THORNTON=, Seaman, R.N.R., 1577C, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LANDELLS, JOHN OLIVER=, E.R.A., R.N.R., 244 E.B., H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=LANDEN, JAMES WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, R.F.R., B. 2871, 308019, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LANDER, WILLIAM ERNEST=, Chief Shipwright, 340787, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=LANE, FRANK EVERETT=, Ordinary Seaman, J. 16811, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=LANE, JOHN HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8033), 293067, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LANE, JOHN WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 9786), S.S. 107274. H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LANG, HENRY ASTELL=, Major, 4th Battn. Worcestershire Regt., yst. _s._ of the late George Lukis Lang, of the Indian Civil Service, by his wife, Louisa Wynyard, dau. of Henry Godfrey Astell, of Ickwell House, Biggleswade; _b._ Biggleswade, co. Bedford, 12 March, 1874; educ. Summerfields, near Oxford; Marlborough College, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Worcestershire Regt. Dec. 1895; and promoted Lieut. 10 May, 1899, Capt. in Sept. 1900, and Major 24 May, 1913; was Adjutant of his Battn. 23 Nov. 1904, to 22 Nov. 1907; A.D.C. to Sir Henry Fane Grant, Governor of Malta, 1906–8; served (1) in the South African War from 1899 to 1901; took part in advance on Kimberley, including actions at Modder River, and Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State, Feb. to May, 1900, including actions at Paardeberg (17 to 26 Feb.); Poplar Grove and Dreifontein; operations in the Orange River Colony, May to 29 Nov. 1900, including action at Bothaville; operations in the Transvaal, 30 Nov. to Dec. 1900, in the Orange River Colony, Dec. 1900, and in Cape Colony, Dec. 1900 to March, 1901 (slightly wounded; Queen’s medal with five clasps); and (2) with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action there, 6 June, 1915; _unm._ Buried in Gulf Ravine, Gallipoli. Major Lang was mentioned in Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatch of 22 Sept. [London Gazette, 5 Nov.] 1915. A brother officer wrote in Berrows Worcester Journal: “It is not stretching a point to say that seldom has there been in the regt., a more popular officer with all ranks than the late Major Harry Lang, who fell in action at the Dardanelles. Possessing a marked charm of manner, he endeared himself to all men. He was a fine sportsman; at polo he was a bold and fine player. He rode hard and hit hard from the moment the ball was thrown in till the bell rang. As a cricketer and capt. of the 4th Worcestershires cricket team, he did yeoman service for his side, and led them to many victories. His loss will be much felt throughout the whole regt. As a soldier he was respected by and for his smart appearance and knowledge of his duties. He served with distinction in the South African War, and in the most adverse circumstances was always bright and cheerful. He was Adjutant to Col. Edwards, now commanding at the Depôt, when the Col. commanded the 4th Battn.,” and another: “He was the first up to every trench, armed with a walking stick; walking straight across to prospect amidst a perfect hail of bullets, and then would saunter back to his troops and head them forward. Never was he excited--fear he knew not; courage and confidence flowed from him to all of us.” Major Lang was a very keen fisherman and naturalist. He did a great deal of big game shooting in Nepal, Kashmir and the Tirai and secured several exceptionally good heads of gond, barasingh, and sambhur, besides tigers, leopards and bears.
=LANG, VIVIAN=, Officer’s Steward, 1st Class, 356268 Devonport, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LANG, WILLIAM BRYNMER=, Capt., 1/5th (Renfrewshire) Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), yr. _s._ of William Lang, of Elmbank, Gourock, Quarrymaster and Contractor, by his wife, Margaret Jane, dau. of Alexander Robertson, of Chesterfield, Gourock; _b._ Gourock, co. Renfrew, 26 April, 1882; educ. Greenock Academy; served with the 1st Vol. (now the 5th Territorial) Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 15 Sept. 1899, to 22 March, 1905; was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. 5 May, 1906; and promoted Lieut. 9 April, 1911, and Capt. 1 Nov. 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, left for the Dardanelles, 31 May, 1915, and was killed during the attack on the Krithia-Achi-Baba position, 12 July following; _unm._
=LANGFORD, ALBERT GEORGE=, A.B., (R.F.R., I.C. 509), 235942, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LANGFORD, ARTHUR=, Private, No. 1394, 4th Battn. L.I., Australian Imperial Force, 4th _s._ of John Langford, of 34, Cross Row, Westmoor, Killingworth, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Archibald Whitehead; _b._ Spittal, Berwick-on-Tweed, 9 Sept. 1890; educ. Blaydon and Gateshead Council Schools; went to Australia, 28 Aug. 1914, and worked as a Miner; volunteered and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in Dec. 1914; left for Egypt with the main force, Feb. 1915; took part in the landing at Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli, 25 April, and died of wounds between that date and 28 April following; _unm._
=LANGFORD, WALLACE=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B 6017), 182043, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LANGHAM, WILLIAM FREDERICK=, Rifleman, No. 1564, 1/6th (Rifle) Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of the late Horton Henry Langham, Chief Officer s.s. William Cliff, by his wife, Florence Edith, yst. dau. of John Coulson of Manchester, Solicitor; _b._ Liverpool, 24 Jan. 1896, educ. Seamen’s Orphanage, Newsham Park, Liverpool; was a Clerk in Liverpool Gas Co.; joined the 1/6th Liverpools, about March, 1914; volunteered for Imperial service and went to France, 24 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action near Ypres, 3 May following. Buried south of Verbranden Molen; _unm._ One of his comrades wrote: “It was a great shock to us when this (? news) was passed to us that Freddie had been killed. He was a splendid chap, liked by all, so everything possible was done to give him a decent burial.” A Church worker in Liverpool wrote: “He was a member of the St. Mary Magdalene’s Church Choir and a Sunday School teacher; in the Church his valuable help and cheery presence will be sorely missed.” His brother, Horton Egerton Langham, R.F.A., is now (1916) on active service.
=LANGLANDS, ALAN=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. South Wales Borderers, 2nd _s._ of the late Major John Shakespear Langlands, 43rd Oxfordshire L.I., sometime Adjutant, Montgomeryshire Militia, by his wife, Lucy Alice (now wife of Major Charles Harold Longfield Beatty, of Borodale, co. Wexford, D.S.O.), dau. of the late Edward Peck; _b._ Longrood, Rugby, 25 Sept. 1895; educ. Stubbington and Wellington College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd South Wales Borderers, 7 Oct. 1914; transferred to the 1st Battn., went to France in March, 1915, and was killed in action near Bethune, 9 May, 1915; _unm._ Buried at St. Vaast’s Post.
=LANGLEY, WILLIAM=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 27), 9807, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action of Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LANGRIDGE, FRANCIS BERTRAM=, Private, No. 10/1553, Canterbury Battn. New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Harry Montague Langridge, of 16, River Bank, Wanganui, New Zealand, formerly of Sussex, England; _b._ Westport, New Zealand, 3 Nov. 1891; educ. Wanganui District Boys’ School; enlisted after the outbreak of war and left for Egypt in Feb. 1915, with the third reinforcements; was for some time a L.-Corpl. in the Wellington Battn., but on being transferred to the Canterbury Battn. had to go back to the ranks; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, and was killed in action, 8 May, 1915; _unm._ His brother, Sergt.-Major J. W. Langridge, was twice wounded at the Dardanelles.
=LANGRISH, HENRY WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 13463 (Ports.), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LANSLEY, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, 301754, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LARBY, WALTER=, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 20455, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LARDNER, RODERICK DONALD=, Yeoman of Signals, 221290, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=LARKING, CHARLES ALFRED=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9130), 208699, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LARVIN, JAMES=, Private, No. 10562, 6th Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., _s._ of Thomas Larvin, of No. 3, Marsh Street, off Scott Street, Hull, co. York, builder for Levitts, Contractors, by his wife, Mary Elisabeth; _b._ Hull; educ. St. Paul’s Schools there; was an employee of Messrs. Crosslands, Stevedores, at the Hull Docks; enlisted after the outbreak of war, 18 Aug. 1914; trained at Belton Park, Grantham; went to the Dardanelles, and was killed in action there, 21 Aug. 1915; _unm._
=LARSON, OKEN FRANK=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 31), 8553, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LASHBROOK, HENRY CHARLES=, Petty Officer, 177834, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LASLETT, FRANK ROLAND=, Officer’s Steward, 2nd Class, L. 1791, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LATHAM, CHARLES EDWARD=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 288526, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LATTA, CHARLES KEITH=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. The Gordon Highlanders, 3rd _s._ of the late John Latta, of 17, Royal Circus, Edinburgh, S.S.C., by his wife, Margaret, dau. of the late John Jopp, writer to the Signet; _b._ Edinburgh, 2 Dec. 1889; educ. Edinburgh Academy and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 6 Nov. 1909, and promoted Lieut. 10 Aug. 1911; killed in action near Ypres, 29 Oct. 1914; _unm._ His Commanding Officer, Col. Uniacke, in notifying his death, wrote: “He gave his life for his country in a gallant fight which was necessary for the safety not only of his own regt. but of a larger force.... He has always proved himself a fine example, and you may well be proud of him as we are, and also all those of his own command. He is a great loss to us and the Army.”
=LAUDER, STANISLAUS JOSEPH=, Private, No. 4070, 14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of the late Charles Lauder, Supt. Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, Bombay; _b._ Bombay, 8 Nov. 1885; educ. St. Mary’s College, Bombay, and London School of Medicine; served with the Red Crescent Medical Mission in Tripoli for seven months in 1912, and with the British Red Cross in Montenegro during the Balkan War, was present with the Montenegrin Army during the siege and capture of Scutari; received the Order of Danilo (3rd Class) from the King of Montenegro, and the British Red Cross Medal with clasp; joined the London Scottish, 5 Dec. 1914, and volunteered for foreign service; went to the Front in July, 1915, and died of wounds received while attending wounded men under fire, 14 Oct. 1915; _unm._ He was buried in the soldiers’ cemetery at Lapugny, near Bethune.
=LAURENCE, ANDREW=, Sapper, No. 11982, 38th Coy. R.E., _s._ of the late Andrew Laurence, of Craiglockhart Terrace, Edinburgh, Mason, by his wife, Christina B., dau. of David Brunton, of Kinross; _b._ Muckhart, co. Perth. 16 Nov. 1882; educ. Muckhart School; served in the South African War with the 3rd Vol. Battn. Royal Scots (Queen’s medal with three clasps); joined the R.E., 11 Nov. 1902; went to France, 7 Sept. 1914, and died in Motor Ambulance, 27 May, 1915, of wounds received in Belgium the same day. Buried in field adjoining the Convent School, Brandholk; _unm._
=LAURENCE, EDWARD JAMES=, Private, No. 1945, 1/8th Battn. The Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of William George Laurence, of 9, Argyle Road, Teddington, by his wife, Maria, dau. of Alexander Mellish; _b._ Windsor, 2 Nov. 1892; educ. Teddington Public School; was a Barman; enlisted at Hampton about 1912; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France, 8 March, 1915, and died of wounds received in action at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; _unm._
=LAURIE, NATHANIEL JOHN=, Rifleman, No. 3224, 1/12th Battn. (The Rangers) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Robert Turner Laurie, of 153, Eswyn Road, Tooting, S.W., Corrector of the Press, by his wife, Amy, dau. of John Saunders; _b._ London, 3 April, 1891; educ. L.C.C. Schools; was a Clerk to Advertisement Contractors; joined The Rangers, 14 Sept. 1914; went to France on Christmas Day following, and died at Casualty Clearing Station, near Rouen, 29 April, 1915, of wounds in the head caused by fragments of high explosive shell received on the 26th at St. Jean during the Second Battle of Ypres. Buried in Bailleul Cemetery; _unm._ A comrade wrote of him: “In all that he did Laurie acted as a soldier and a gentleman.” Private Laurie was an active Free Church worker, chiefly amongst children.
=LAVERTY, DANIEL=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10565), S.S. 108512. H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=LAW, JOHN THOMAS=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 15121, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=LAW, PAUL=, Private, No. 1650, 1/4th Battn. West Riding Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Joe Law, of Luddenfoot. Halifax, Teamer; _b._ Lower Oldfield, Luddenfoot, 1 Sept. 1895; educ. National School there; joined 1/4th West Ridings, March, 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action 10 May, 1915, being shot by a sniper; _unm._
=LAW, PERCY PEACOCK=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9963), S.S. 2587, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=LAW, THOMAS PAKENHAM=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Irish Guards, 3rd _s._ of the late Thomas Pakenham Law, K.C., by his wife, Amelia Catherine (Elsinore, Howth. co. Dublin), dau. of Horace Rochfort, of Clogremane, co. Carlow; _b._ Dublin, 27 May, 1879; educ. Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his degrees in Arts and Law; called to the English Bar, Lincoln’s Inn, 1905, and practised at the Chancery Bar; gave up this on the outbreak of war and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Irish Guards, 4 June, 1915; went to France and was mortally wounded at the Battle of Loos, 27 Sept. following, dying three hours later. Buried in a garden at Loos; _unm._
=LAWES, FREDERICK JOHN=, Private. No. 10693, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Benjamin Lawes, of Swanington, near Norwich, Labourer, by his wife, Susanna Elizabeth, dau. of George Carr; _b._ Swanington, 17 July, 1889; educ. Elementary Church School, there; worked on the land from the time he left school until he enlisted, except for two years (1911–13), when he worked in a coal pit at Newcastle-on-Tyne; enlisted in April, 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 29 Oct. 1914; _unm._
=LAWRENCE, CHAS. EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 110970, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=LAWRENCE, CHARLES SAMUEL=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 6360, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAWRENCE, CHRISTOPHER HAL=, 2nd Lieut., 6th (Reserve), attd. 2nd Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, yr. _s._ of the late Hon. Henry Arnold Lawrence, by his wife, Constance Charlotte (9, Chantry House. Eccleston Street, S.W.), only surviving dau. of the late Rev. George Irving Davies, Rector of Kelsale, Suffolk, and grandson of John, 1st Baron Lawrence; _b._ Harrington Gardens, London, S.W., 11 Nov. 1893; educ. Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the University O.T.C.; applied for a commission on the day war was declared, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th K.R.R.C. 15 Aug. 1914; went to France, 20 Sept. 1914, where he was attached to the 2nd Battn. of his regt. (2nd Brigade, 1st Division), and was killed in action during the Battle of the Aisne, 13 Oct. 1914, being shot by a sniper. Buried at Bourg, near Troyon; _unm._ His only brother, Lieut. M. E. Lawrence, was killed in action near Givenchy, 10 Jan. 1915 (see his notice).
=LAWRENCE, EDGAR ERNEST ALBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3634), 191271, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LAWRENCE, GEORGE ALBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5216), 179879, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAWRENCE, MALCOLM EYTON=, Lieut., 6th (Reserve), attd. 2nd Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, only surviving _s._ of the late Hon. Henry Arnold Lawrence, by his wife, Constance Charlotte (9, Chantrey House, Eccleston Street, S.W.), eldest surviving dau. of the late Rev. George Irving Davies, Rector of Kelsale, Suffolk, and grandson of John, 1st Baron Lawrence; _b._ Harrington Gardens, London, S.W., 10 March, 1889; educ. Eton; received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 3rd (Reserve) Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., 1 Oct. 1908, and served for one year; went to British Columbia in Feb. 1910, where he bought and cleared land, built a house and was latterly given Government employment (sub-warden of the Isles); enlisted in the 88th Victoria Fusiliers on the declaration of war and came over with the first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th K.R.R.C. 4 Nov. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1915; went to France 3 Dec. 1914, where he was attached to the 2nd Battn. and was killed in action near Givenchy, 10 Jan. 1915, while leading his men in a charge. Buried in village of Cuinchy; _unm._ His Commanding Officer wrote: “On reaching the position he found that a brother officer, who had led another storming party, was in need of assistance as he had lost more than half his men. Lawrence dashed over the intervening 70 yards with some of his men, and was no doubt responsible for getting back his brother officer who was now left alone and would have been cut off.”
=LAWRENCE, WILLIAM=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 9794), 297574, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAWRIE, ERNEST NORMAN=, 2nd Lieut., 13 Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensington Rifles) London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of John Lawrie, Managing Director of Whiteleys’, London, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of John Elliott; _b._ West Hampstead, 30 April, 1893; educ. County School, Richmond, and Haberdashers’ School, Cricklewood; entered the employment of Messrs. Elkington, of Regent Street, in Feb. 1912; enlisted in the Kensingtons a few days after the commencement of war, 10 Aug. 1914, and after training at Abbots Langley left to join the British Expeditionary Force at the Front, 31 Oct. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut, in his own regt., 3 April, 1915; was present at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and was killed in action at Aubers Ridge, near Fromelles, 9 May, 1915; _unm._ His body was not recovered as the spot where he fell remained in the possession of the Germans. Major H. J. Stafford, writing on behalf of the Colonel, said: “He met his death leading his men in the true British way, and under circumstances as exacting as any that troops could be called upon to face. I knew your son very well, as prior to his gaining his commission he was attached to me as my runner, and was constantly with me. I soon discovered his fearless nature, and his devotion. As an officer he had already won the esteem of all ranks, and showed great promise as a leader of men.” An interesting account of how he captured a German flag appeared in the “Daily Mirror” of June 9, 1915.
=LAWRIE, JAMES BLACK=, E.R.A., 1st Class, 268155, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAWSON, FREDERICK HENRY=, Capt., 5th Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Frederick Lawson, of Dalton, co. Northumberland, late of Nelthorpe, Gosforth, Merchant, by his wife, Eleoner Francis, dau. of the late John Walker; _b._ Newcastle-on-Tyne, 23 July, 1887; educ. Durham Grammar School; served his articles with Messrs. Newcomb and Newcomb, Architects, of Newcastle, and was afterwards with Mr. Arthur Stockwell, of that City; joined the Northumberland Yeomanry in 1907; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, 15 May, 1909; promoted Lieut. 17 July, 1910, and Capt. 1 Nov. 1912; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war; went to France, 13 April, 1915; and was killed in action at St. Jean, near Ypres, 24 May following; _unm._ His Col. wrote: “Capt. Lawson was one of my best officers, thoroughly capable and reliable.”
=LAWSON, WILLIAM=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 2433), 290533, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LAWTON, JOSEPH SYDNEY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9403), 296679, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAWTON, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9652), S.S. 106992, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAYDON, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 9332, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of John Laydon, of 17, Dunns Terrace, Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne, by his wife, (----), dau. of William Wild, of Newcastle; _b._ Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 22 Sept. 1882; educ. St. Dominic’s Catholic School there; enlisted 22 Oct. 1911, and was killed in action at Soupir, during the Battle of the Aisne, 14 Sept. 1914; _unm._
=LAYTON, FRANK THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10003), S.S. 107616, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LAZENBY, ARTHUR=, A.B., J. 4916, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LEA, THOMAS LAMPIT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5043), 201762, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LEACH, GERALD KEMBALL=, Lieut., 6th (Service) Battn. Border Regt.; 2nd _s._ of the late Arthur Francis Leach, of 34, Elm Park Gardens, London, S.W., Charity Commissioner, by his wife, Emily Archer, dau. of S. Kemball Cook; _b._ London, 10 Aug. 1883; educ. Ashdown House, Forest Row, Sussex, from which he obtained a scholarship at Bradfield College, where he was senior Prefect and Captain of the Association Football Team, afterwards gaining an exhibition at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he rowed in the College boat; was in the Association Football and Cricket teams, and became a Lieut. in the University O.T.C. He was appointed an assistant in the Chinese Maritime Customs in 1904, and was quartered successively at Chefoo, Wuhu, Peking, Hankow, and Changsha. He resigned his appointment in Jan. 1915, in order to return home and join the army and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th Border Regt., 1 March, 1915; left for the Dardanelles with the 11th (Northern) Division, 1 July following, and was killed in action at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on 10 Aug., during the operations which followed the landing on the 6th and 7th; _unm._
=LEADER, FRANCIS WILLIAM MOWBRAY=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Connaught Rangers, elder _s._ of Francis Henry Mowbray Leader, of Classas, Coachford, co. Cork, late Lt. Royal Field Artillery, by his wife, Agnes Letitia, dau. of Thomas Broderick; _b._ Plymouth, 6 Nov. 1881; educ. Eastman’s Royal Naval Academy, and in France and Germany; joined the Manchester Militia as 2nd Lieut. 1901, and served with them in the South African War, 1901–2, taking part in the operations in Cape Colony, Oct. 1901, and in Orange River Colony, Oct. 1901 to 31 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with four clasps), being specially recommended by his Colonel for a regular commission; was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 1st Connaught Rangers, 28 Jan. 1903, and promoted Lieut. 30 Dec. 1905 and Capt. 1 Aug. 1914; served with the 1st Battn. for several years in India, and after its return home was attached to the West African Frontier Force, and saw service in Southern Nigeria, 1909–10 (medal with clasp); was at home on leave when war broke out, went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, and was killed in action while in command of a rearguard of 50 men covering the retirement of his regt. at Le Cateau, 26 Aug. following. A prisoner of war in Germany wrote: “Got back to cross road with some stragglers and French wounded, and found Capt. Leader and 50 men with Turner left as rearguard to the battn. Joined them, and we started to gain the rest when suddenly we received news of two battns. of Germans on our right and quite close. Soon after we came under a hot fire from them, and poor Leader was killed.”
=LEAKES, BERTRAM ALFRED=, A.B. (B. 3610), S.S. 979, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LEAMAN, JOSEPH HERBERT=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26743, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=LEARY, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3391), S.S. 101169, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LEATHER, CHRISTOPHER=, Lieut., 3rd (Reserve), attd. 1st. Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers, 6th and yst. _s._ of the late Frederick John Leather, of Middleton Hall, Belford, co. Northumberland, J.P., by his wife, Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia (The Friary, Tickhill, co. York), dau. of the Rev. Charles Walters, M.A. Oxon; _b._ The Friary, Tickhill, 15 July, 1882; educ. Hazelwood, Limpsfield, and privately; received a commission as Lieut. in the 3rd Battn. Durham L.I. (Militia), 23 Dec. 1899; served in South African War, Jan. 1900 to May, 1902, being att. to the Mounted Infantry. For his services he was given a regular commission in the 1st Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers, and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He retired in 1904; but on the outbreak of the European War rejoined his old regt., 20 Aug. 1914; went to France, where he was attd. to the 1st Battn., and was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle, 26 Oct. following. Buried behind the trenches, near Neuve Chapelle; _unm._ He was an enthusiastic motorist and fisherman, and is described as “a good officer and friend.” He was one of six brothers, all of whom served both in South Africa and in the European War. The third and fifth brothers were also killed in action (see their notices), and the second and fourth, Capt. P. C. du Sautoy Leather and Lieut.-Col. Kenneth J. Walters Leather, were severely wounded, and the eldest, Major G. F. T. Leather, Northumberland Fusiliers, is now (1916) on active service.
=LEATHER, EDWARD WILBERFORCE=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Yorkshire Regt., attd. 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., 5th _s._ of the late Frederick John Leather, of Middleton Hall, Belford, co. Northumberland, J.P., by his wife, Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia (The Friary, Tickhill, co. York), dau. of the Rev. Charles Walters, M.A., Oxon; _b._ The Friary, Tickhill, 23 Nov. 1879; educ. Hazelwood Preparatory School and Wellington College; joined the 3rd Battn. Yorkshire Regt. (5th West Yorks Militia) in 1899, and was promoted Lieut. 13 Dec. 1900; served in the South African War, 1899–1900, 1902 (Queen’s medal with two clasps and King’s medal with two clasps), and retired in 1904. On the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914, he at once rejoined his regt.; was promoted Capt. 1 Feb. 1915; went to the Front, 11 Nov. 1914, attd. to the 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., and was killed in action at Hill 60, 18 April, 1915; _unm._
=LEATHER, ERNEST ARTHUR=, Major, Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd _s._ of the late Frederick John Leather, of Middleton Hall, Belford, co. Northumberland, J.P., by his wife, Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia (The Friary, Tickhill, co. York), dau. of the Rev. Charles Walters, M.A. Oxon; _b._ at South Penge, co. Surrey, 18 Oct. 1868; educ. privately; joined the 5th Militia Battn. of the Northumberland Fusiliers as 2nd Lieut., 23 May, 1900; and served at Malta during the South African War, 1900 (medal), retired with the rank of Capt. in 1910, but on the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914 joined his old regt., and obtained his Majority 20 Oct. following; went to France, 11 Jan. 1916, and was killed in action near Fleurbaix, 10 Feb. 1916. Buried at La Croix Marechal. He _m._ at Hexham Abbey, 25 Oct. 1904, Mildred Louise, dau. of Charles Augustus Harrison, of Beacon Grange, Hexham, and had two children: Vivien Mildred, _b._ 22 March, 1907; and Anne du Sautoy, _b._ 13 Sept. 1913.
=LEATHWOOD, JOHN PEARSON=, Petty Officer (N.S.), 219283, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LE BRUN, CHRIS=, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 21950, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LECKIE, MALCOLM, D.S.O.=, Capt., Royal Army Medical Corps, attd. 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, yr. surviving _s._ of James Blyth Leckie, of Monkstown, Crowborough, co. Sussex, and Peebles, formerly of Blackheath, co. Kent, by his wife, Selina, dau. of Robert Bousfield; _b._ Eltham, co. Kent, 18 April, 1880; educ. Blackheath Preparatory School, privately abroad, and Guy’s Hospital; gazetted Lieut., R.A.M.C., 4 Feb. 1908, and promoted Capt. 4 Aug. 1911; was attd. to the Egyptian Army from 1 Feb. 1910 to Feb. 1914, and served in Upper Egypt, the Soudan, and in an expedition up the Blue Nile; went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, being attd. to the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers (9th Brigade, 3rd Division), and died at Frameries, near Mons, on the 28th of that month, of wounds received there on the 24th. Buried in the cemetery at Frameries; _unm._ He was awarded the D.S.O. [London Gazette, 8 Dec. 1914] “for gallant conduct and exceptional devotion to duty in attending to the wounded at Frameries, where he was himself wounded.” Capt. Leckie was one of the best hockey players of his day. He was a member of the Blackheath Hockey Club, and Captain of Guy’s Hospital Club when there; played for the Kent Hockey Club, for the Army, and for England against France. He was a descendant of the Leckies of the Barony of Leckie in Stirlingshire, 1352. One of his ancestors, Sir Walter Leckie, of King Charles VII of France’s Bodyguard, commanded the Scottish troops at the Battle of Lagny on 10 Aug. 1432--the last exploit of the Maid of Orleans--when these troops were instrumental in the utter defeat of the English under the Duke of Bedford. Sir John French, in his first Despatch, said that for the advance from the Marne his left wing rested on Lagny.
=LEDGER, FREDERICK=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4248), 220386, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LEDGER, RAYMOND KIRWOOD=, Lieut., 6th (Reserve) Battn. Rifle Brigade, attd. 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 4th _s._ of the Rev. Charles George Ledger, M.A., Vicar of St. Paul’s, Tupsley, co. Hereford, by his wife, Isabel Mary, dau. of the Rev. George Henry Kirwood; _b._ Hereford, 26 Oct. 1891; educ. Marlborough (Scholar), and Wadham College, Oxford (graduated B.A. with honours in Modern History, and was Captain of his college tennis, hockey and Association football teams); gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th Rifle Brigade, 15 Aug. 1914, and promoted Lieut., 19 Dec. 1914; went to France 13 Nov. 1914; was attached to 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle, 13 April, 1915, being shot by a sniper while in the trenches. He was buried the same night near Picantin, side by side with Lieut. Gladstone; _unm._ His Commanding Officer wrote: “He had done more reconnaissance work than any other officer in the battn. He volunteered for everything possible, and carried out successfully whatever he set himself to do. What he did at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle was characteristic; he volunteered to go and find where the 21st Brigade was when it had got out of touch with his own Brigade (the 22nd). The way he took was sprinkled with the dead bodies of those who had tried, before him, to get across; he managed to do it and returned with valuable information. He was away seven hours.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915.
=LEDIARD, FRANCIS=, Private, No. 7948, B Coy., 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots, _s._ of the late Henry Lediard, of Birmingham, Cab Proprietor, formerly a Police Constable in the Birmingham Force, by his wife, Sarah; _b._ Birmingham, 25 Nov. 1867; educ. St. Thomas Church Schools there; was a Cab Driver in Birmingham, but enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1902; served eight years with the Colours and four years with the Reserve, during which time he held a good position in a motor garage in Birmingham; was called up on mobilisation, 5 Aug. 1914; rejoined his old regt.; went to France about 18 Aug., and was killed in action on the 26th, during the retreat from Mons; _unm._
=LEE, ALBERT ALFRED=, Private, No. 2132, A Coy., 1/8th Battn. The Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Alfred Lee, of 16, Waltham Road, Southall, Basketmaker, by his wife, Ann, dau. of Ruben Kempster; _b._ Southall, 29 Dec. 1896; educ. Featherstone Road Boys’ School there; was employed in the Boxmaking Department of Messrs. Otto Monsted, Ltd., Margarine Works, Southall; joined the 1/8th Middlesex Territorials in April, 1913; mobilised from the training camp on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; volunteered for foreign service; went to Gibraltar with his regt. in Sept.; returned to England in Feb. 1915; went to France, 8 March, and was killed in action at Zonnebeke, 1 May, 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres; _unm._ Buried there. Capt. A. H. Woodbridge, Officer Commanding A Coy., wrote: “It is with infinite regret that I write to tell you of your son’s death, which occurred in the fighting near Ypres on 1 May. In your great grief it may be some comfort to you to know that he suffered no pain and met his end nobly doing his duty.”
=LEE, CHARLES=, Private, No. 5086, 2nd Battn. East Lancashire Regt., eldest _s._ of Samuel Herbert Lee, of Alnwick Street, Burnley, by his wife, Margaret Ann, dau. of William Whittaker; _b._ Burnley, 20 Feb. 1893; educ. St. Peter’s School there; joined 2nd East Lancashires, 16 May, 1912, previously to which he was employed at Towneley Collieries; went to France, 1 Dec. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915; _unm._
=LEE, CHARLES=, Stoker, Petty Officer (R.F.R., B. 3954), 155422, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=LEE, GEORGE FRANCIS=, Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5473), 301936, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LEE, LENNOX CLELAND LEE=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Irish Guards (Special Reserve), elder _s._ of Lennox Bertram Lee, of How Caple Court, near Ross, co. Hereford, by his wife, Edith, dau. of the late Malcolm MacLellan, of Clairmont Gardens, Glasgow; _b._ Knutsford, co. Chester, 27 March, 1893; educ. St. David’s, Reigate; Eton, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; and when war broke out was awaiting examination for the Diplomatic Service; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Irish Guards (Special Reserve), 15 Aug. 1914; went to France, Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Cuinchy, 1 Feb. 1915. Buried there; _unm._
=LEE, LEWIS (DICK)=, L.-Corpl., No. 9915, 6th Battn. Lincolnshire Regt., 2nd _s._ of George Lee, of 26, Trafford Street, Scunthorpe, Steel Worker, by his wife, Florence, dau. of Richard Walker; _b._ Crowle, co. Lincoln, 23 Sept. 1890; educ. Scunthorpe; was employed in steel works; enlisted after the outbreak of war, Aug. 1914; trained at Frensham Camp, Farnham; went to the Dardanelles in June, and was killed in action at Suvla Bay, 29 Aug. 1915; _unm._ Two of his brothers are (1916) on active service.
=LEE, REGINALD=, _alias_ =THOMAS=, L.-Corpl., No. 1574, 5th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, _s._ of Thomas Lee, of Elsted, Sussex, Police Constable, by his wife, Ellen; _b._ Brighton, 29 Jan. 1895; educ. Amberly, Bognor, and Funtington, co. Sussex; enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, 9 Nov. 1910, and served three years, taking his discharge while at Simon’s Town, Cape Colony, 9 May, 1913; he then went to Adelaide, and was getting on well when war was declared. He immediately joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force, and after a short period of training at Melbourne, was sent to Egypt and from there to the Dardanelles, where he was wounded by a shell while fetching up ammunition and died on board the Hospital Ship Royal George, between Alexandria and Malta, 16 May, 1915; _unm._
=LEE, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9000), S.S. 105811, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LEECH, WILLIAM LEONARD BOGHURST=, Rifleman, 1/9th Battn. (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of the late Arthur Herbert Leech, M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A. (who was in practice at Woolpit and afterwards at Broseley, where he died in 1894), by his wife, Annie Madeline (28, Egerton Gardens, West Ealing, W.), dau. of William Philip Boghurst; _b._ The White House, Woolpit, co. Suffolk, 22 Nov. 1887; educ. Epsom College; passed his A.R.I.B.A. in June, 1913, and was assistant in the firm of Messrs. Wratten and Godfrey, London; volunteered on the outbreak of war, but was five times refused at the recruiting station on account of wearing glasses, and acted as Special Constable from Aug. to Nov. 1914, when he was at last accepted by Queen Victoria’s Rifles, and joined the 1st Battn.; trained at Crowborough Camp, where he twice refused Corporal’s stripes, as he thought it would keep him in England longer; went to France with a draft, 27 March, 1915; was severely wounded in the head on 8 April, 1915, and died at Overcliff Red Cross Hospital, Westcliff-on-Sea, on 14 May following; _unm._
=LEEK, WILLIAM=, A.B., 218963, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LEES, EDMUND HASTINGS HARCOURT=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Border Regt., _s._ of Thomas Orde Hastings Lees, of Guilsborough, co. Northampton, Barrister-at-Law, formerly Chief Constable of that county; _b._ Northampton, 21 Dec. 1875; educ. Marlborough, Royal Academy, Gosport, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Border Regt., 5 Sept. 1896, promoted Lieut. 10 Feb. 1900, and Capt. 24 June, 1906; was Adjutant to a Territorial Battn. (The Artists’ Rifles), 19 Oct. 1909 to 20 Oct. 1912; served in the South African War, 1899–1901; took part in operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899; in Natal, 1899; relief of Ladysmith, including actions at Colenso; operations of 17 to 24 Jan. 1900, and action at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 Feb. 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz; operations on Tugela Heights (14 to 27 Feb. 1900), and action at Pieter’s Hill; operations in the Orange Free State, April and May, 1900; operations in the Transvaal, June, 1900; in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July, 1900; in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to Nov. 1900, in Orange River Colony, May, 1900; in Cape Colony, north of Orange River, May, 1900; in the Transvaal from 30 Nov. 1900 (was wounded and mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901], received Queen’s medal with six clasps); and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Sept. 1914 to 26 Oct. 1914, was killed in action at Ruiseek, near Ypres (whilst defending Calais) on the latter date. An officer referring to this action wrote: “Our men fought desperately from nine o’clock till six, when the Germans withdrew, and our little remnant was ordered to retire. We have only about 400 men left out of over 1,000 and hardly any N.C.O’s.”
=LEES, PERCY BERESFORD=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., _s._ of Col. Charles Percy Lees, of Herne Lodge, Oundle, co. Northampton, by his wife, Anna Madeleine, dau. of Edward Whetham Allpress; _b._ Newton Hall, Middlewich, co. Chester, 12 June, 1890; educ. Wellington College and the School of Mines, Camborne, where he took his degree; was engaged in mining in Canada when war broke out, and at once returned to England, applied for a commission, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Northamptons, 14 Oct. 1914; went to France, 1 March, 1915, where he joined the 2nd Battn., and was killed in action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915. Buried at Neuve Chapelle; _unm._
=LEES, THOMAS PRIOR=, Major, 9th Battn. (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of the late Alfred Lees, by his wife, Rosa Matilda, dau. of Thomas Flood; _b._ at the Old Priory, Bedford, 3 Sept. 1874; educ. Bedford Modern School and Clare College, Cambridge (M.A. and 8th Senior Optime). Entered the Home Civil Service, Senior Division, and was Assistant Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Burlington Gardens. Joined the old Victoria and St. George’s Rifles, 22 May, 1889; became Capt., March, 1905, and Major, 15 Aug. 1913; obtained Special Certificate, Chelsea Barracks, and passed the Army examinations for Field Rank (distinguished). He volunteered with the officers of his regt. for active service during the South African War, but only a limited number were required, and he remained in England. Volunteered for the present war, landed in France, 5 Nov. 1915. The battn. went straight into the trenches and was afterwards attached to 13th Infantry Brigade. On 17 April the brigade was detailed for the capture of “Hill 60.” The fighting was so severe during the 17th, 18th and 19th that the West Kents, Scottish Borderers, Yorks L.I and West Riding Regts., who had fought magnificently, were withdrawn and another brigade brought up. The Queen Victoria’s had been occupied in carrying munitions to the front trenches, but miraculously escaped with few casualties. They were not relieved with their brigade. On the night of the 20th the enemy took the trenches on the top of the hill, and Major Lees counter-attacked with two companies, the rest of the battn. being held in reserve in dug-outs near the foot of the hill, where they were subjected to a terrible bombardment lasting for hours. Major Lees’ night assault was successful. He then found he was the senior officer left alive on the hill and reorganised the defence. The German artillery and machine-gun fire was continuous, save when they launched repeated infantry attacks against our trenches. About 5 a.m. on the 21st, Major Lees had gone to the most exposed trench held by the Bedford Regt., in which there were nearly 300 of our killed and wounded. The enemy were assaulting, showering grenades into the trench and sweeping the parapet with machine-gun fire. It was at this critical moment that he was shot through the head and heart, only 10 yards from the Germans, while shouting orders to hold on. He fell off the parapet into the arms of a Sergt. of the Bedfords and never spoke again. The N.C.Os. and riflemen were heroic. Out of the 150 men with Major Lees all were killed and wounded, except 20 who were still holding on with 2nd Lieut. Wolley, V.C., when relieved by the Devons and Camerons. Lieut.-Col. Shipley, C.M.G., wrote to his brother, Major Lees, late 3rd South Wales Borderers: “He died like a hero, having retaken and made good a position of primary importance which the enemy were on the point of re-occupying. His last gallant charge was, as he would have wished it, to the assistance of his county regt., the Bedfordshires. The last words I heard him speak as he led his company off into the trenches were: ‘Now, remember, if anyone is wounded, the others must carry on. If I am hit, go on.’ It was his initiative and courageous behaviour that has enabled us to hold on to the position. I cannot even attempt to tell you what a stupendous loss his is to the regt. and myself, but we must console ourselves by remembering and trying to emulate your brother’s unswerving devotion to duty and the unflinching gallantry shown by him in all times of stress; his life so earnestly devoted to others will live in our memories for all time.” He was buried in the larch wood near Hill 60.
=LEGGAT, WILLIAM=, 2nd Lieut., 7th Battn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (T.F.), eldest _s._ of James Leggat, of 89, Wilson Street, Glasgow, Wholesale Provision Merchant, by his wife, Jane, dau. of Robert Carswell, of Duncarnock, Newton Mearns; _b._ Strathbungo, Glasgow, 29 Jan. 1883; educ. Bellahouston Academy, Glasgow; was a Wholesale Provision Merchant in Glasgow, served four years with the Dumbartonshire Rifle Volunteers until they were disbanded on the organisation of the T.F.; received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in 7th Cameronians, 21 March, 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war; left for the Dardanelles, May, 1915, and died at Malta, 2 July following, of wounds received in the Allied attack on the Krithia-Achi Baba position, Gallipoli, on 28 June. Buried Pieta Cemetery, Malta; _unm._
=LEGGATT, EDWARD=, E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 159975, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=LEGGE, RONALD GEORGE=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Devonshire Regt., 7th and yst. _s._ of the late Hon. Charles Gounter Legge, H.M. Inspector of Constabulary, by his wife, Mary, eldest dau. of the late Very Rev. Thomas Garnier, Dean of Lincoln, and grandson of William, 4th Earl of Dartmouth; _b._ Southgate, co. Middlesex, 4 July, 1878; educ. Sherborne School; served with the 59th Coy. Imperial Yeomanry in the South African War, 1900–1 (Queen’s medal with four clasps); was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 2nd Devons, 23 April, 1902; and promoted Lieut. 13 March 1906, and Capt. 15 Nov. 1914; was Adjutant to the Territorial Force, 30 April, 1910, to 29 Oct. 1913; went to France, 5 Nov. 1914, and was killed near Neuve Chapelle, 18 Dec. following. He _m._ at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth, 19 Nov. 1910, Phyllis Mildred, dau. of the Rev. Mortimer Ford, of Yarcombe, co. Devon, and had a son, Rupert Mortimer, _b._ 8 Sept. 1911.
=LEGGE, STAFFORD HENRY=, Private, No. 847, 16th (Service) Battn. The Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 1 March, 1915.
=LEGGETT, ALAN RANDALL AUFRÈRE=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Prince of Wales’s North Staffordshire Regt., yst. _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Frederick Octavius Leggett, of Underhill House, Cheriton, co. Kent, late Army Ordnance Dept., by his wife, Maria (Minnie), dau. of Thomas Browning; _b._ Delce Grange, Rochester, co. Kent, 31 May, 1893; educ. Oxford Preparatory School, Tonbridge School, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he was Hon. King’s Cadet, 1911–12; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 1st North Staffords, 4 Sept. 1912, and was promoted Lieut. 18 Sept. 1914; went to France, 4 Sept. 1914, and was killed in action in the trenches near Armentières, during the First Battle of Ypres, 31 Oct. 1914. Buried St. Martin’s Churchyard, Cheriton, Kent; _unm._ He was mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 20 Nov. 1914–14 Jan. 1915 [London Gazette, 17 Feb. 1915], in respect of an action on 20 Oct. 1914, when he was sent with his platoon to support the Leinster Regt., which was hard pressed, and by “his steadiness, good leadership, and well considered action held up the enemy’s attack and enabled the offensive to be resumed.” His commanding officer wrote: “He did his duty cheerfully and fully, without a thought of self.”
=LEGGETT, GEORGE=, Stoker, R.N.R., 2068U, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LEGGETT, GEORGE=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./15320, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=LEIGH, ALBERT EDWARD=, L.-Corpl., No. 9814, 1st Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 25 Sept. 1915.
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The Roll of Honour, Volume 1Chapter LI: Part 51
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