Leslie Lemon

Leslie Lemon was born on 18th March 1895 at Westwood, the son of James and Sarah Ann Lemon (formerly Merry, née Stallard). His father James was born on 12 October 1849 at Bridge Gate, Derby, the son of James and Mercy Lemon, and baptised in Derby on 5 December 1853. James (20) married Rosetta Adkinson or Atkinson (19) at Derby All Saints on 26 June 1869. Rosetta, also known as Rose, was the daughter of Joseph Adkinson and born in Derby, probably in 1852 (reg. 1853 J/F/M Derby). James and Rosetta had a son Edward James, also known as James, who was born in 1871 and baptised at Derby St Alkmund on 13 April 1871. In 1871 the family was living at Bridge Gate Court Derby. By 1881 James was living in Selston with his son Edward James and his family by Sarah Ann Merry. His wife Rose Lemon, a washerwoman, may have been living on Wright Street, Derby, in the parish of St Alkmund, with her children Elizabeth (7) and Henry (5) both surname Lemon. Leslie's mother Sarah Ann Stallard was born in Birmingham in 1854, the daughter of Alfred Stallard. She married Charles Merry, the son of Charles and Ann Merry, at the parish church of Ironville, Derbyshire, on 3 August 1874. They had a daughter, Alice, in 1875 (A/M/J Belper). Charles died the same year aged 21 and was buried in Ironville churchyard on 8 August 1875. James Lemon and Sarah Ann Merry did not marry until 3 January 1925 (J/F/M Derby Register Office) when they were both in their seventies. However, they lived together as man and wife, probably from at least 1877 when their first child was born, and were described as husband and wife on civil records. Sarah's daughter by her first marriage, Alice Merry, was known by the surname Lemon. James and Sarah had ten children of whom two died in infancy: Charles Alfred b. 1877; William Henry b. 1879; Sarah Ann b. 1881 (reg. J/F/M); Arthur Ernest b. 1882; Horace b 1884 (A/M/J) bap. 1884 Codnor, Derbyshire, d. 1884 (A/M/J) and his twin Sarah Elizabeth b. 1884 (A/M/J) bap. Codnor 1884; Horace b. 1887 (O/N/D) bap. Codnor 22 January 1888 d. 1888 (O/N/D) and his twin Thirza b. 4 November 1887 bap. Wesleyan Methodist Codnor 22 January 1888; Percy b. 1892 and Leslie b. 1895. All the registrations were in the Basford registration district. In 1881 James and Sarah were living in New Westwood, Selston, with the children of their first marriages, Edward (10) and Alice (6), and their three children Charles (4), William (2) and Sarah A. (under one year). The family had moved to Stone Row, Selston, by 1891. Edward and Alice were still living at home together with their half-brothers and sisters, Charles, William, Sarah A., Arthur (9), Sarah E. (7) and Thirza (3). Two sons, both named Horace, had died in 1884 and 1888 respectively. Percy and Lesley were born before the 1911 Census when the family was still living in Selston. James' son, Arthur Ernest, completed the census form on behalf of his father and included the information that his parents had been married for 34 years (dating back to the birth of their first child Charles) and had had 12 children of whom two had died, This number included the child each had had in their first marriages and their two sons who had died. Only four of the surviving ten children were in the home on the night of the census: William a bricklayer, Thirza a domestic servant and Percy and Leslie who were both clerks. At least four of their children were married, Charles Alfred to Mary Matilda Green in 1902, Sarah Ann i 1902, Sarah Elizabeth to Walter Andrews in 1904 and Arthur Ernest to Tetty Clementine Williamson in 1907, while William was to marry later in 1911. Leslie's father James of New Westwood died on 9 July 1929; Administration of his Will was awarded to his sons William Henry, a bricklayer, and Arthur Ernest, a grocer. His mother Sarah Ann was recorded in the home of her married daughter Thirza Sumner in Ealand, Lincolnshire, when the 1939 Register of England & Wales was compiled. However, she had returned to New Westwood by the time of her death on 19 April 1942. Administration of her Will was awarded to William Henry and Arthur Ernest. James and Sarah Ann were buried in St Mary's churchyard, Jacksdale, with their eldest son, Charles Alfred, who had died on 14 February 1925. According to a report of Leslie's death in the local newspaper in 1917, his brother Percy was also serving in the army in France. There are two military records for a Percy Lemon: 79564 Sergeant Royal Garrison Artillery and 147446 Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery. Neither served in theatre before 1916.