The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Second Lieutenant D R  Leatherdale


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Second Lieutenant Donald Ryan LEATHERDALE, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, (formerly Private, 28th London Regiment, Service No.1298), killed in action, on or since, 22nd July 1916. 

4th February 1896, born Catford, SE. son of George Fenning Leatherdale, MA, Oxon by his wife Mabel Gertrude, (Daughter of the late Robert Parsons),  46 Grosvenor Road, London, SW.

16th July 1899, East Haddon, Northamptonshire, baptism of Donald Ryan Leatherdale, son of George Fenning & Mabel Gertrude Leatherdale, Forest Hill, London SE. Vicar - Vincent F Leatherdale.


1911 Census - Christ's Hospital School, West Horsham, Sussex - Donald Leatherdale, scholar, age 15, single, born Catford, London.


1911 Census - 22 Westholm Green, Letchworth, Herfordshire - Mabel Gertrude Leatherdale, head, age 42 years & 3 months, *(married 25¼ years, 5 children, 4 still alive), born Orton Longueville, near Peterborough; Phyllis R M Leathedale, daughter, age 20½ years, single, typist in photographic factory, photographic factory, worker, born Boscombe?, Bournemouth; Alan R Leatherdale, son, age 13 years & 11 months, school, born Balham, SW; #Lyonel R M Gilden, nephew, age 24 years & 4 months, accountant, Cloton? Engineering, worker,  born Thormond Gate, Limerick, Ireland.

* entries crossed out in red.

#Lyonel Reginald Marsden Gildea, died 5th January 1945, Hitchin Hertfordshire, age 58.


1911 Census - 44 Lancaster Road, West Norwood, SE - $George Leatherdale, boarder, age 50, married, Insurance Clerk, born The Mauritius, (Redident), British by Parentage.

$ 1914 June, died age 53, Paddington Registration District.


Formerly employed by Royal Exchange Insurance Company.

Brother of Corporal Alan Richard Leatherdale, Royal Fusiliers, died 18th September 1916.

January 1914, joined The Artists Rifles; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war; served with the Expeditionary Force in France & Flanders; 26th October 1914. posted BEF; June 1915, obtained a commission; after leading his men into action in High Wood where he was seen to be wounded, was reported missing 22nd July 1916, and is now officially assumed to have been killed on or about that date.

A brother Officer wrote: "He went into action like a brave Britisher and a gentleman, with not the slightest fear of death."

Unmarried.

Mrs Leatherdale (Mother), Cornwall House, Combe Martin, North Devon.

26th June 1917, Probate - Ronald Ryan Leatherdale of 46 Grosvenor Road, Westminster, Middlesex. Second Lieutenant His Majesty's Army  died on or since 22nd July 1916, in France. Administration London 26th June to Mabel Gertrude Leatherdale, widow. Effects £193 0s 8d.

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, France.


London Gazette 22nd June 1915

The under mentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men, from the 28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists Rifles), unless otherwise stated, to be temporary Second Lieutenants. Dated 11th June, 1915.

The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Private D. R. Leatherdale.


This page was last updated on 09-Jul-2020.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason