Thomas Henry Leman
He was educated at Chigwell School, Essex, member of the OTC. Member University College Nottingham OTC. On leaving Chigwell School he was articled to his father’s firm Leman & Sons.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Thomas Henry Leman was the son of Thomas Charles Leman, a chartered accountant, and Helena Maud Leman (née Mellers).
His father Thomas Charles was born in Nottingham in 1868 and his mother Helena Maud was born in 1870, also in Nottingham.
Thomas and Helena were married on 17th August 1893 at St Andrews Church, Nottingham, and had three children who were born in Nottingham: Thomas Henry b. 1895, Helena Doris b. 1898 and Phyllis Mary b. 1906.
In 1901 Thomas and Helena and their two children were living at 23 Herbert Road, Nottingham, and this was given as their son's address on the probate record (1916).
At the time of the 1911 Census Thomas Henry (16) was a boarder at The Grammar School, Chigwell, while his parents and their younger daughter Phyllis Mary were recorded staying at Clarence House, a boarding house in Skegness, Lincolnshire. Helena Doris was a visitor at Haddon House in The Park, Nottingham, the home of a lace manufacturer, John Percy Smith and his wife and family.
The family home was at 'Fenimore', Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent, at the time of Thomas Charles' death at the age of 51 on 19 October 1918.
The CWGC record (compiled after his father's death) gives Thomas's parents' address as 12 Arthur Street, Nottingham, but his mother and sisters later moved to 50 Tavistock Drive, Mapperley Park, where hs mother was still living when she died in November 1954.
Helena Maud was also predeceased by her youngest daughter, Phyllis Mary, who died in March 1929. Her surviving daughter, Helena Doris, had married Thomas John Deverill Walker in 1922; she died in 1975.
Captain Thomas Henry Leman was commisioned on 6th October 1914 and served with the 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
He landed in France on 12th July 1915 and so was with the Battalion when, as part of the North Midland Division, it was in the action on the Hohenzollern Redoubt three months later.
Thomas was killed in action, aged 21, during the attack on Gommecourt on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. His body was recovered from the battlefield in March the following year and he was buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, France (Plot 3. Row D. Grave 10).
Extract from 1/7th Battalion War Diary, 10th/11th March 1917 – “The body of Captain Leman, who was killed in action on July 1st. was brought in from the wire in front of Gommecourt and buried at Fonquevillers Cemetery by the Reverend A.E. Mellish, V.C.”
CWGC Foncquevillers Military Cemetery (extract): 'In 1915 and 1916 the Allied front line ran between Foncquevillers and Gommecourt. The cemetery was begun by French troops, and taken over by Commonweatlh forces. It remained in use by units and field ambulances until March 1917, the burials in July 1916 (particularly in Plot I, Row L) being especially numerous. The cemetery was used again from March to August 1918, when the German offensive brought the front line back to nearly the old position. ' (www.cwgc.org.uk)
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'FORTIS SCIT MORI NON CEDERE' [The brave may fall, but can not yield]
CWGC additional information: 'Son of Thomas Charles and Helena Maud Leman, of 12, Arthur St., Nottingham.'
Probate: Nottingam 6th July 1917. Thomas Henry Leman of 23 Herbert Road, Sherwood, Nottingham a Captain in H.M. Army died on 1st July 1916 in France. Effects £286 1 shilling and 11 pence. Probate awarded to Thomas Charles Leman chartered accountant.
It took just a fortnight for the first obituaries of ICAEW Chartered Accountants and Articled Clerks to appear in The Accountant.
The edition of 15 July 1916 carried obituaries of Captain T. H. Leman (Sherwood Foresters), an articled clerk with Leman & Sons, and Second Lieutenant Geoffrey E. Layton Bennett, an A.C.A. with E. Layton Bennett & Co., who died on the first day. Many more obituaries would appear in the weeks that followed:
Thomas Henry Leman (1895-1916). Thomas Henry Leman enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters and was serving with the 1/7th battalion at Foncquevillers at the northernmost point of the Somme battlefield. On 1st July 1917 the battalion was ordered to make an assault on Gommecourt, a diversionary effort to keep German forces from being drawn into the main battle. Published accounts record that Captain Leman led his company over the top from a front line trench in no man’s land. The company made it through the wire and into the German front line trench. As the assault faltered an already wounded Captain Leman mounted a spirited defence of the trench with the small band of men that remained but was killed as the German infantry moved forward to retake their position.
A fortnight later 'The Accountant' reported his loss to their readers: 'Our readers will learn with sincere regret that Captain T.H. Leman (Sherwood Foresters) has been officially reported "missing, believed to be killed", as on the 1st inst. Captain Leman, who was only 21 years of age, was the only son of Mr. T.C. Leman, F.C.A., of Nottingham. He was educated at Chigwell School, in Essex, where he had some experience in the Officers’ Training Corps, and upon leaving there was articled to his father’s firm. He took part in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt last November, and on that occasion his Colonel wrote to his father: "I feel I should like to write and say how very pleased I am with your son. He is making a most excellent officer. I was astonished at his coolness and courage, and the way he led his men on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and also for the way he took over the command of his company after his captain had been wounded. It is to boys like yours that England owes so much at the present time. It has given me the greatest pleasure to send his name forward to be promoted to Captain.” In a more recent letter, Lieut.-Col. Brewill describes Captain Leman as “one of the most capable and most promising officers in ‘The Robin Hoods’, who by his kindly and courteous manner endeared himself to all." Our readers will, we are sure, join with us in expressing the hope that the official news may yet prove to be incorrect'
Above courtesy of the The ICAEW Library & Information Service website.
Nottingham Evening Post, 22 October 1918: ‘Nottingham Accountant’s Death. Mr Thomas Charles Leman of ‘Fenimore’ Radcliffe on Trent, whose death has occurred at the age of 51 years, at Mundesley-on-Sea, was a son of Mr Thomas Leman, of Nottingham, and a member of the firm of Messrs Leman and Sons, chartered accountants. Since March, 1911, the deceased gentleman had been one of the city’s elective auditors and always displayed a keen interest in public affairs. He had been in failing health for some time, and went to Mundesley three or four months ago for special treatment. He leaves a widow and two daughters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Thomas Henry Leman
Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marking his grave at Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France. Photograph Murray Biddle