The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Captain L G Preston

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Photograph by "International War Graves Photography Project" 

Captain Leslie George PRESTON, 8th  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, (attached 6th  Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment), died of wounds, 10th July 1918, age 27.

1891 born  Crouch End, London. Third Son of #Robert J. & *Edith Temple Preston, of Gravelly Hill, Rose Place, Erdington, Warwickshire.

#1904 September, Aston Registration District, Robert John Preston died age 48.

*1904 December, Aston Registration District, Edith Temple Preston, married James Clarkson.

1911 Census - 24, Arthur Road, Erdington, Warwickshire - James Clarkson, head, age 36, married, Accountant, employer, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire; Edith Clarkson, wife, age 45, married 6 years, no children, born Finsbury Park, London; Robert Preston, stepson, age 23, single, Accountants Clerk, worker, born Dibrughan, Assam, India; Herbert Preston, stepson, age 22, single, Insurance Clerk, worker, born Stroud Green, London; Leslie Preston, stepson, age 20,. single, Accountants Clerk, worker, born Crouch End, London; Dudley Preston, stepson, age 18, single, Stockbrokers Clerk, worker, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire; Nellie Lovell, servant, age 23, single, domestic servant, worker, born Birmingham.

August 1914, Joined the Black Watch, (1st Gordon Highlanders), with his three brothers as Private, Acting Corporal, Service No.4225; 10th May 1915, posted BEF; Sergeant, (Acting Quarter Master Sergeant), Machine Gun Corps, Service No.7393; September 1915, wounded at the Battle of Loos; January 1916, obtained Commission; February 1916, posted BEF.

1.Captain Robert W Preston -  August 1914, Joined the Black Watch, (1st Gordon Highlanders), with his three brothers as Corporal, Service No.4224; 10th May 1915, posted BEF; 23rd April 1916, Commissioned Gordon Highlanders, Second Lieutenant / Lieutenant / Captain; June 1917, Second Lieutenant Robert W Preston, awarded MC.

Photograph by "Len"

2.Second Lieutenant Herbert Stanley Preston - August 1914, Joined the Black Watch, (1st Gordon Highlanders), with his three brothers as Private / Sergeant, Service No.4222; 10th May 1915, posted BEF; 23rd April 1916, Commissioned Second Lieutenant Gordon Highlanders; 8th September 1916, killed on the Somme. Buried La Neuville Cemetery, Corbie, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France. Plot II.C.49.

 3.Second Lieutenant Dudley Granger Preston - August 1914, Joined the Black Watch, (1st Gordon Highlanders), with his three brothers as Corporal, Service No.4223; 10th May 1915, posted BEF; 6th July 1916, Commissioned Second Lieutenant  / Lieutenant, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, abroad with his Regiment in September 1917. Died 25th September 1930, Solihull, Warwickshire.

6th March 1919, Probate - Leslie George Preston, of 24, Arthur Road, Erdington, Birmingham. M.C. Captain 8th Royal West Kent Regiment, attached 6th Dorsets died 10th July 1918, at Harponville in France. Administration Birmingham 6th March to Edith Temple Clarkson (wife of James Clarkson). Effects £293 12s 10d.

Buried at Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, D. 20., France.

AWARDS: MC & Clasp to MC

London Gazette 14th March 1917.

War Office,14th March, 1917. REGULAR FORCES.

The under mentioned W.O's., N.C.O.'s, and men to be temporary 2nd Lieutenants (on probation) with effect from dates shown: 

Royal West Kent Regiment - Serjt. L. G. Preston, from M.G. Corps. - 13th February 1917

London Gazette 26th September 1917.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on the under mentioned Officers and Warrant Officers in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field :

Temporary 2nd Lieutenant Leslie Gordon Preston, Royal West Kent Regiment

London Gazette 1st October 1917.

Royal West Kent Regiment. - The under mentioned to be temporary Lieutenants: Temporary 2nd Lieutenant - L G Preston -  14 June 1917.

London Gazette 26th October 1917.

Royal West Kent Regiment. -  The under mentioned temporary Lieutenants to be acting Captains (additional) : 

20 July 1917. - L. G. Preston.

London Gazette 13th December 1917.

Royal West Kent Regiment - Temporary Lieutenant L. G. Preston, M.C., from acting Captain (additional), to be acting Captain while commanding a Company. -  20 September 1917.

London Gazette 9th January 1918.

With reference to the awards conferred as announced in the London Gazette, dated 26th September, 1917, the following are the statements of service for which the decorations were conferred.

AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS

Temporary 2nd Lieutenant  Leslie Gordon Preston, Royal West Kent Regiment

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his platoon with magnificent dash, and with only twelve men left captured his objective. He then took out a bombing patrol, bombed dug-outs and took prisoners. Finding both flanks in the air, he formed his party into an advanced post until the remainder of his battalion was securely established.

London Gazette 24th September 1918.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the following Awards to the under mentioned  Officers and Warrant Officers, in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the field :

AWARDED A BAR TO THE MILITARY CROSS.

Temporary Captain Leslie Gordon Preston, M.C., Royal West Kent Regiment attached to The Dorset Regiment.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid by his battalion. He was in command of the first wave and remained in the enemy line for over an hour, although all his subalterns became casualties early in the raid. His splendid example inspired those under him, and the raid was a complete success. After getting his men safely back to the front line he went about "No Man's Land" searching for wounded.