Leslie Kilbourne
1911 - brass worker (foundry).
1915 - he was working at a soap factory when he enlisted.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Leslie was the son of Joseph and Millicent Kilbourne (née Pratt).
His father was born in Sneinton, Nottingham, in 1863 and his mother in Beeston, Nottingham, in 1871. They were married in 1892 (reg. AMJ) and according to information provided on the 1911 Census had ten children, although a daughter was born later that year. There may have been another daughter, not named but registered as 'female', who was born in 1892 (AMJ Basford) and may have died in early infancy.
Their children were: William John b. 1893, Millicent Gladys (Gladys) birth registered 1895 (JFM), Leslie b. 1896, Phyllis birth registered 1898 (JFM), Fanny b, 1899, Lavinia b. 1901, Joseph b. 1903 (Feb), Alfred b. 1905), George b. Dec. 1906 (reg. 1907), Bernard b. 1909 and Hettie/Hetty b. 1911 (JAS). The older children were born in Radford, but the three youngest, George, Bernard and Hettie, were born in Hyson Green.
Joseph, a Leivers lace maker, Millicent and their five children, William, Gladys, Leslie, Phyllis and Fanny, were living at 2 Beechams Square, Radford, in 1901.
The family had moved to 26 Lambert Street, Hyson Green, by 1911. All ten children were in the home on the night of the census: William, a brass worker (foundry), Gladys a 'maker slip', Leslie who was also a brass worker (founder), Phyllis, Fanny, Lavinia, Joseph and Alfred who were school age, and George and Bernard. Hettie was born later that year.
William joined the Royal Navy in September 1912. He married Hester Harriet Jackson in 1915 and they had a son, William John, in 1920. William served until at least 1928 but rejoined after the outbreak of the Second World War and was killed at sea in November 1942.
The eldest daughter, Millicent Gladys, married Harold Davis in 1913.
Phyllis married George William Wilson in July 1914; they had two children, William John (b. Aug. 1914) and George Arthur Leslie (b. July 1916). Her husband was killed in France in March 1918 by which time their two sons were officially in the care of their paternal grandmother (see record on this Roll of Honour).
Joseph completed a form for the Army on 22 October 1919 listing his son Leslie's surviving blood relatives:
Parents: Joseph and Millicent Kilbourne, 26 Lambert Street, Hyson Green.
Brothers: William John (26), Joseph (16), Alfred (14), George (12), Bernard (10)
Sisters: Gladys Davis (24), Phyllis Wilson (21), Fanny Kilbourne (20), Lavinia Kilbourne (18), Nelly-sic [Hettie] (8).
No addresses were given for their ten children, but three, William, Millicent and Phyllis, were married and living independently
Joseph and Millicent were still living at 26 Lambert Street in 1921. Also in the home were seven of their children: Fanny and Lavinia who were both machinists, Joseph an unemployed labourer, Alfred a hosiery trimmer, George an errand boy and Bernard and Hettie who were school age. Also in the home was their grandson, John Thomas Wilson (b. Dec. 1917, 'both parents living') who was probably their daughter Phyllis Wilson's son by another relationship (see record for George William Wilson on this Roll of Honour).
Lavinia married George A Brookes in 1922, Alfred to Amelia Simpson in 1926, George to Phyllis Hodges in 1927, Joseph to Hannah A Bell in 1929 and Bernard to Ida Barker in 1932. Fanny and Hettie have not yet been traced after 1921 but their names appear in notices relating to their parents' deaths in 1929 and 1948. Their sister Phyllis (Wilson) had separated from her husband before his death in 1918 and has only been traced after this period in 1949 when she inserted a notice in the local paper commemorating her mother's death the previous year.
Their father Joseph died on 13 March 1929 and his widow Millicent on 27 April 1948.
For further family details see record for William John Kilbourne.
Leslie Kilbourne attested on 11 December 1915. He was aged 19y 5m, occupation 'soap presser' (Gerrards soap factory), and was living at 26 Lambert Street, Nottingham. He named his father Joseph of the same address as his next of kin.
Leslie transferred to the Army Reserve the following day and was mobilised on 24 January 1916 and posted to the Sherwood Foresters on the 25th. There are various entries in his service record indicating that he served with the Labour Corps from 26 April 1916, including 25th Works Battalion (Durham Light Infantry) from 28 February 1917 and 355 (HS) Works Company from April 1917. However, there are copies of internal correspondence c.1918/19 which confirm that he had never served with 355 (HS) Works Company and it is possible that other entries relating to the postings/dates he served with Labour Corps were erroneous.
Leslie was transferred to 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, joining at South Shields on 9 May 1917. He served with the BEF France from 18 July 1916, posted to the 12th Battalion DLI the following day and to the 20th Battalion on 10 August.
He was killed in action on 21 September 1917. Leslie has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 128 to 131 and 162 and 162A.)
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Leslie's brother, William, served in the Royal Navy for 25 years, including service in the First World War, and rejoined the Royal Navy in the Second World War (16162 Leading Stoker). He was serving in HMS Hartland when he was killed in action on 8 November 1942 although his death was not confirmed until March the following year. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Their brother-in-law, George William Wilson, who married Phyllis in 1914, served with the 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (26269 Private) in France and was either killed in action or died of wounds on 21 March 1918. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Another brother-in-law, Harold Davis, who married Millicent Gladys in 1913, also served in the war.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 21 September 1918:
'Kilbourne. In loving memory of Pte. Leslie Kilbourne, D.L.I., killed in action September 21st, 1917. A loving brother, a faithful friend, one of the best that God could send. Ever in our thoughts. – His loving sisters Gladys [Millicent Gladys Davis], Livinia, and brother-in-law Harold [Davis] in France.'
'Kilbourne. In loving memory of Pte. Leslie Kilbourne, killed in action September 21st, 1917. A loving son, brother kind, a credit to those he left behind. – Mother, father, sister, brother Bill [William] (at sea), grandma, mam-mam.'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 13 March 1930. (1) ‘In memory of Joseph, died March 13th, 1929. Wife, Hetty, Bernard and Joe.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). (2) Vinnie [Lavinia], George [Brookes]. (3), Alf, Millie [Alfred and wife Amelia]. (4) Gladys, Fanny.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 November 1944: ‘Kilbourne. William, killed in action (RN), two years ago to-day; also brother Leslie, killed September 21st, 1917. Ever in our thoughts. Mother, sisters, brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 29 April 1948: ‘Kilborne. April 27th, Millicent, our beloved mother, passed peacefully away. They will meet again. Loving sons, daughters, in-laws, and grandchildren.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27 April 1949. ‘Kilbourne. In treasured memory of my dear mother, who passed away April 27th, 1948. You often said we’d miss ou, your words have since proved true. We lost the best and dearest mum, dear one, when we lost you. Her loving daughter, Phyllis (Blackpool).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
Also a notice on 27 April 1949 from her daughters Gladys, Fan [Fanny], Vin [Lavinia] and Hetty.
Additional research/record updated, RF (Feb. 2026)
Photo of Leslie Kilbourne
Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (www.cwgc.org)