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Remembered Today:

Any Leicestershire Regt specialists ?


Archer

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Can anyone help - or even do a coupla lookups for me?

I am researching a certain Mr. E. E. Leeson. I have his M.I.C.

Taken on strength and mustered as Private E. Leeson, no. 14702, in an unknown Service Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment - 1914-15.

Crossed to France - 29 July 1915.

(This means he must have served in 110 Brigade, 37th Division - comprising the 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th (Service) Battalions of the Leicestershire Regiment.)

Selected for appointment to commissioned rank - c. 1917.

Discharged from the Army to take up commission - 29 May 1917.

Appointed to a commission as temporary Second Lieutenant E. E. Leeson, and posted to a Service Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment - circa June 1917.

Promoted to the rank of temporary Lieutenant - 30 November 1918.

Relinquished his commission on completion of service, retaining the rank of Lieutenant - 24 January 1919.

Now the questions:

When exactly was he commissioned 2/Lieut. ?

What battalion was he posted to on commissioning?

With what battalion did he serve as a soldier before commissioning?

And ...

Wasn't the 110th Brigade unusual in being made up of four battalions of the same county regiment?

Fascinating.

William

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William,

I have a trio to a 7th Battalion man with the number 16025. According to Soldiers Died there were 31 soldiers attached to the Leicesters with the number 147?? who died. Of the 31 there were 27 serving with the 9th Battalion, 2 with the 8th Battalion and 1 each with the 7th and 2nd Battalions. A fairly strong indication that he was 9th Battalion? Have you looked at the Medal Rolls themselves? Sometimes they list a mans battalion. If he was an officer there is a chance his service papers have survived. These may make reference to his previous service.

The case of the Leicesters battalions serving in the same brigade is not necessarily unique. For example the 42nd Division had a brigade comprising entirely of Lancashire Fusiliers TF battalions.

Rgds

Tim D

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Thanks for the analysis and suggestions, Tim.

I am in South Africa, so no chance of checking the medal rolls or officer's file.

The reason I' m looking for help on the date of Leeson's commissioning is ... wait for it ... the jolly old London Gazette search engine, which can't 'see' the entry!

There were a few Leesons living in Leicester at the start of the 20th century - some of them pork butchers by trade.

Regards

William

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William,

I would reckon on him being 9th Battalion. The soldiers were generally in approximately alphabetical order, as they joined up in the first week of September, served one day and went home for a few days, as the Depot was swamped. Obviously, the Army tried to be logical. In my area, we have three Geary cousins who were 14600, 14601, and 14602, and a Watson, 14908, who all started with the 9th. They neatly bracket your man. Further indications from a Kendrick, whose number I forget, but was 146XX.

Yup, the 110th Brigade was also known as the Leicestershire Brigade, and they went en-masse to France at the end of July 1915.

I thought that the date of discharge to commission was the day (or day before) being commissioned, as the soldier could be returned to unit (RTU'ed) during the course.

It was also unlikely that he would have been commissioned into the 9th Bn, as it was not normal to be commissioned into your prior unit.

Dave

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A very helpful posting, Dave :D

My experience is similar to yours - I had thought that the date of discharge to commission was the day before being commissioned, which is why I reckoned Leeson's commission to be dated 'circa' June.

Many thanks indeed

William

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Not certain but didn't Pen & Sword Books do a history of that Brigade? Book is called 'The Tigers' and I think the author is Matthew Richardson? Didn't have a nominal roll though the author might well hold one.

Bernard

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Bernard is right - the title and author are correct. One of my favourite books. There was a nominal roll, of the men who travelled over as the original brigade in July 1915, as a separate appendix - although the information was very patchy. I have a copy and will look. (Something to do when the Xmas telly is poor.)

Seasons greetings to one and all.

Dave

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William,

Good news: the separate Appendix to "The Tigers" shows E.Leeson to have been a member of 9th Battalion. I understand that the nominal list comes originally from the 14/15 Star Medal Roll.

In addition,on page 83 of the book there is a photo of No 11 Platoon, and the description is "In this group Pegg,.....,.,,,,Leeson,.... Unfortunately, there are about 50 ORs and only 25 names! (11 Platoon was part of C Company where "my" locals, who joined the 9th Bn in the first week of September, seemed to have congregated, although none were amongst the 25 names.)

On the issue of commissioning, I have checked this. One of my chaps who was discharged to commission on 30 October 1917, arrived at his Officer Cadet Battalion on 5th July 1917. Seems to support the idea that the discharge came as they received their commission.

Cheers,

Dave

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  • 2 weeks later...

Many, many thanks, Dave

I have been away on holiday, but got back this evening (local time), and just wanted to say thanks - I have piles of catching up to do.

Regards

William

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  • 11 months later...

William,

If you are still researching 2/Lt Leeson, I happened across the following two entries in the 11/Leics War Diary, which I think might be of some interest:

5th March 1918 “2/Lt E.E. Leeson joined the Battalion ex 2/5th Bn Leicestershire Regiment.”

19th September 1918. “2/Lt E.E. Leeson admitted to hospital “WOUNDED”” (On 18th the Bn was involved in consolidating the objectives of 6 Div attack in vicinity of TERTRY.)

I can't really believe it is a year since the last post.

Best wishes for 2006,

Dave

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  • 6 months later...

Dave

Is my face red? It should be.

I did not see your post before - but today I was going back through my postings looking for something, and Hey Presto! - there was your answer.

I am terribly sorry and very grateful at the same time.

Please accept my apologies. :(

William

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William,

No problem! I ought to have PM'ed you but I wasn't sure how!

But it was interesting to see Leeson back with his regiment after commissioning - not unknown but not too common, I believe. Also he presumably joined the 11th Battalion after the 2/5th were disbanded. If you still have an interest in him, I will have a look at 2/5th War Diary in the County Records Office, next time I go there.

Best regards,

Dave

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Many thanks!

I would be grateful for any more you can dig up on him, Dave.

William

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