Leonard George Heath
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Leonard was the second son of Henry and Mary Ann Heath (née Chadwick).His father Henry was born in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, on 28 March 1859, the son of William Heath, a landowner and farmer. His mother Mary Ann was born in Carlton in Lindrick, Nottinghamshire, in about 1861, the daughter of George and Mary Ann Chadwick. Her father was a landowner and farmer who later moved to Nottingham where the family had a farm at Bestwood.Henry and Mary were married at Bestwood Park Emmanuel Church on 27 September 1881 and had seven children who were all born at Bestwood and baptised at Emmanuel Church: William Henry b. 11 June 1882 bap. 16 July 1882; Mary Elizabeth b. 18 June 1883 bap. 15 July 1883; Leonard George b. 16 July 1884 bap. 10 August 1884; Margaret Annie b. 8 November 1885 bap. 15 December 1885; Henry Norman (Norman) b. 1894 bap. 16 October 1894 and Evelyn Dorothy b. 16 July 1900 bap. 15 August 1900.Leonard attended the Grosvenor School and the Nottingham High School between 1896 and 1898.The family lived at Sunrise Farm, Bestwood Park, which Henry farmed for over 50 years. In 1901 five of their six children were living at home: Mary (17), Leonard (16) who was assisting on the farm, Margaret (15), Norman (6) and Evelyn (8 months). The eldest son, William, was serving in South Africa and died of enteric fever in 1902 (see 'Extra information'). By 1911 only three of their five children were in the home on the night of the census: Mary, Norman who was working on the farm, and Evelyn. Leonard was probably already working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The second daughter, Margaret, had married John Farr on 27 September 1906 at Emmanuel church and in 1911 they were living at 10 Carisbrooke Drive, Nottingham with their two children John Robinson (3), who died in 1922 aged 14, and Noreen Margaret (6 months). Her husband was an electrical engineer.Leonard returned to England to enlist in September 1914. He had married Ida Gilbert in Rio de Janeiro (consular registrations 1911-1915), and although the record of her return to the UK has not yet been traced she was in the country by 1916 and lived with Leonard's parents at Sunrise Farm. Ida served as a VAD nurse with the Red Cross Society (Commission Notts 32) at the 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, from 22 May 1916 to 22 June 1917. She died on 25 March 1918 and was buried in Bestwood Emmanuel churchyard.Leonard's mother, Mary Ann, died at Sunrise Farm on 19 January 1931. Her daughter, Evelyn was one of her two executors. Henry and Evelyn were living at 17 Egerton Road, Arnold, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Henry died at Egerton Road on 29 July 1942. His daughter Margaret Annie Farr was one of his two executors.Of Leonard's siblings:Mary Annie married William Nightingale Foss at Emmanuel Church on 9 July 1913, They had two children, Dorothy Mary (later Grahame d. 2005) and William Nightingale (b. 13 April 1918 d. 2002). Her husband died in 1918 (J/F/M Nottingham) and in 1939 she was living with their two children on Valley Road, Nottingham. Mary was living on Buckingham Road, Woodthorpe, when she died on 4 June 1971.Margaret Elizabeth and her husband John Farr had five children, John Robinson (b. 1908 d. 1922), Noreen Margaret (b. 1910), Heather Mary (b. 9 May 1912), John Arnold (b. 1922) and Bryan Henry (b. 15 March 1925). In 1939 they were living at Worksop Manor, Worksop; John (b. 28 February 1882) was a company director, farmer and blood stock breeder. John Farr was related to Sir John Robinson Bt, the founder of the Home Brewery, who acquired Worksop Manor before 1900. Sir John's only son, John Sandford Robinson (b. 1868), died at Worksop Manor in 1898 following an accident. When Sir John's widow Dame Eveline Maude Robinson died in 1944 John Farr was her executor. John Farr died on 15 February 1951 and Margaret on 24 January 1984; she was still living at Worksop Manor.Norman Henry served in the war (see 'Extra information') and then emigrated to South Africa where he was living at the time of his father's death in 1942.Evelyn Dorothy was living with her widowed father in Woodthorpe in 1939. She was living in Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, when she died on 18 November 1977.
Commissioned second lieutenant in the Sherwood Rangers 4th November 1914 (London Gazette 16th December 1914). Attached 3rd Skinners Horse, Meerut Cavalry Brigade, Indian Army Leonard returned from Rio de Janeiro, where he was working, to enlist. He sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the SS Araguaya (Royal Mail Steam Packet Company) out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Liverpool, arriving Liverpool on 14 October 1914.Appointed lieutenant, appointed temporary captain 3rd March 1915 (London Gazette 16th March 1915). He was seconded for service with the Indian Cavalry 2nd April 1915 (London Gazette 25th May 1915).Leonard served in theatre from 15 April 1915 (area not named on the medal roll index card but probably France).He died of wounds on 14th March 1916 and is buried in Le Treport Military Cemetery, France (grave ref. Plot 2. Row O. Grave 21).He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.CWGC - Le Treport Military Cemetery (extract): 'During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre. No.3 General Hospital was established there in November 1914, No.16 General Hospital in February 1915, No.2 Canadian General Hospital in March 1915, No.3 Convalescent Depot in June 1915 and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital in July 1916. These hospitals contained nearly 10,000 beds.'
His elder brother William Henry Heath attended Nottingham High School (1895-1897). There is a record of a William Henry Heath born Nottingham 11 June 1882 occupation engineering who joined the Royal Navy on 28 August 1899 as a Boy 2nd Class. He was discharged by purchase in December the same year. There is also a record of 3335 Trooper William Heath, born Nottingham 11 June 1882, who served in the Anglo Boer War. William served in 'C' Division South African Constabulary (233 Private) and died of enteric fever in Pretoria on 14 February 1902.Nottingham Evening Post, 21 February 1902: Death of Mr WH Heath. Sincere sympathy will be felt by many residents in Nottingham and the county with Mr Henry Heath JP CC of Sunrise Farm, Bestwood, and his family in the announcement of the death of his eldest son which appeared in the casualty list issued by the War Office on Wednesday. Very little more than a year has elapsed since Mr WH Heath volunteered for service in the South African Constabulary, and after serving in the ranks with the characteristic pluck he was seized with the fell disease of enteric fever, which has wrought so much havoc among the British troops. Some little while ago his parents received the painful intelligence that he was lying dangerously ill at Heidelberg, in the Transvaal, and although hopes of a recovery were based upon his strong constitution the worst fears have been realised, and it transpires that his death occurred on the 14th inst. The deceased was ony in his 30th year and his untimely demise, induced as it has been by his keen desire to serve his country’s cause, will occasion deep sorrow in the hearts of all those who were acquainted with him or with his parents.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)His younger brother Henry Norman served initially in the Royal Horse Artillery (lieutenant) and then with Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides (captain).Family grave and headstone, Emmanuel Church churchyard, Bestwood: 'In memory of Ida Gilbert, died March 25th 1918, beloved wife of Leonard George Heath, Captain 3rd Skinners Horse, Meerut Brigade, Indian Army, died of wounds at Le Treport, France, March 14th 1916'CWGC record refers to him being attached to 1st Duke of York's Lancers (Skinner's Horse). 3rd Skinners Horse became 1st /3rd Skinner’s Horse in 1921 and then 1st Duke of York's Own (Skinner's Horse). In 1922 they merged with 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse).Nottingham Evening Post, 16 March 1916: ‘Died of Wounds. Capt. Leonard Heath of Bestwood. Much sympathy will be felt with Ald. and Mrs Henry Heath of Sunrise Farm, Bestwood, in the sad news which reached them today of the death of their second son, Captain Leonard Heath of the Bengal Lancers. Captain Heath, who was 31 years of age, held an important and lucrative appointment in Brazil when war broke out, but he relinquished this to come home for military service, and quickly secured a commission in the Sherwood Rangers. So promising and alert an officer was early marked out for promotion, and 15 months ago Lieut. Heath, as he then was, was transferred to the Bengal Lancers and gazetted to a captaincy. During practically the whole of the intervening period he has been in France, but his parents had no knowledge that anything had befallen him until they received the intimation from the War Office that he had died of wounds in hospital. Ald. And Mrs Heath lost their eldest son in the Boer war. Their youngest son, Norman, is a lieutenant in the 168th Brigade RFA.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 28 March 1916:’The Notts. Education Committee, at a meeting to-day, passed a vote of sympathy with Ald. H Heath, one of its members, on the death of his son, Capt. Leonard Heath, killed at the front. The chairman, Mr H Mellish, mentioned that Mr Heath’s eldest son was killed in the Boer War.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Probate: Heath Leonard George of Bestwood Park Nottinghamshire captain in His Majesty’s army died 14 March 1916 in France Probate Nottingham 27 September to Fanny Sophia Chadwick spinster. Effects £112 12s. 2d. Note: Fanny Sophia Chadwick was Leonard's maternal aunt. She died in 1937 and her niece, Evelyn Dorothy Heath, was one of her executors.Probate: Heath Ida Gilbert of Bestwood Park Nottinghamshire widow died 25 March 1918 Administration (limited) Nottingham 19 March to Henry Heath farmer the attorney of Charlotte Josephine Osmond. Effects £286 9s.Nottingham Evening Post, 30 July 1942: report of the death of Henry Heath who had farmed at Sunrise Farm, Bestwood Park, for 55 years until his retirement, suffering from poor health. ‘Mrs Heath predeceased her husband 12 years ago. They lost one son in the South African War and another in the Great War. Their only surviving son, Capt. HN Heath, resides in South Africa. There are three daughters, Mrs Foss [Mary Elizabeth], Mrs John Farr [Margaret Annie] and Miss Evelyn Heath.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
