Lewis Leaning
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Lewis was born on 30th June 1897 in Coddington , the son of Lewis a labourer at Marshall and Co general engineers and his wife Annie leaning who lived at the Crown Inn, Beckingham. Lewis had 8 siblings and in the 1911 census he is living with his family at The Green, Beckingham, he is 12 years of age and a scholar.
Lewis joined the Royal Marines and was promoted to acting corporal in the 1st battalion ,Royal Marine Light Infantry, Royal Naval Division. He embarked with the Royal Marines Brigade on 29th July 1915 and joined his battalion at Cape Helles ,Gallipoli on 28th August 1915. By the end of 1915 the campaign in Gallipoli is abandoned and Lewis and his battalion are transferred to the Western Front. On 13th November 1916 he received a gun shot wound to his right index finger, he eventually returned to active service and on 23rd March 1918 he was killed in action. His body was never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Arras memorial. Because of very heavy casualties among infantry soldiers, a Division of Infantry was formed from Sailors and Royal Marines, who were sent to fight in the trenches instead of at sea. A very sudden German attack in force in the spring of 1918 caused thousands of casualties, one of whom was Lewis Leaning. .
Two of Lewis's brothers also served in the 'Great War ' Ernest who served with the Sherwood Rangers and Robert who served with the Army Service Corps . The information on Lewis Leaning has been provided courtesy of the Beckingham and Saundby local history group.
