|
Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | St Venant-Robecq British Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| After May 1917 in France | ~ | Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial |
| Warwick St. Paul | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | |
| German Spring Offensive | May/June 1917 in Warwick | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| St Venant | Trooper 13 1st/1st Warwick, Royal Horse Artillery | |
Circumstances of Death
|
Leonard is listed as being killed in action on 8 May 1918. The 478th war diary entry for that day and a newspaper report about Leonard's death are transcribed below. War Diary 8 May 1918Warwick Advertiser ReportWarwick Advertiser - 25th May 1918 Pte. Leonard London, R.E. third son of Mr and Mrs F.H. London, of West-street, Warwick has been killed in action in France at the age of 27. He had served in the Army for nearly 12 months, and only went to France recently. Before joining the colours he was engaged in his father’s business [F.H. London]. His young widow, who is left with a little boy, has received from an officer a letter which shows how highly he was regarded by those with whom he served. The officer, who encloses the last letter written by Pte. London to his wife writes:- “He was out with me on an important duty when the party were caught by a heavy German shell, a portion of which struck your husband killing him instantly. You can take it from me that he did not suffer for one moment. I had him brought back to our billet, and his remains are to be interred in a churchyard quite close by, the name of which shall be kept by me as a record. I am arranging for some of his comrades to follow him to his last resting place. I would like to add that was liked and loved by myself and all his comrades. For devotion to duty nobody could find a better man, and only two or three days earlier I had submitted his name to his commanding officer for promotion, but regret that he did not live to see it approved”. It may be added that all the other four sons of Mr. and Mrs. London are serving in the army. One hold’s a commission in the Yeomanry an another attached to the Royal Engineers. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jan Qtr 1891 in Warwick | 1 Mar 1891 at Warwick St. Paul |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Frederick and Sarah London | 10 West Street, Warwick |
| Wife and Marriage Details | Children |
| Mildred London nee Lee | Leonard Frederick born 1912 |
| 9 Apr 1912 at St. Margarets, Kings Lynn | |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1891 - 10 West Street, Warwick | 1901 - School |
| 1901 - 10 West Street, Warwick | 1911 - Paperhanger in family business |
| 1911 - 10 West Street, Warwick | 1912 - Furniture Dealer |
| 1917 - 25 Hampton Terrace, Warwick | |
- On 30 Apr 1905 - aged 14 - Leonard joined the 1st/1st Warwick Battery Royal Horse Artillery Territorial unit
- He stated that he was 17 years old on his enlistment papers. He was given the service number 13
- He attended subsequent training camp in 1909; 1910 and 1911
- Warwick War Memorial Project Biography


