Leonard George Steel
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Leonard was born on 15th September 1894 in Balderton and was the son of Carey a grocer and baker and Elizabeth Steel nee Osborn of “Holmeleigh”, Balderton, Newark. Carey was born in Balderton in 1863 , his wife Elizabeth was born in 1867 in St James, London, they were married in Newark in June 1892. They had a further son Charles Osborn b1893 also in Balderton.In the 1911 census the family are shown living at Main Street, Balderton , Carey is working as a grocer and baker and is living with his wife Elizabeth and their two sons Charles and Leonard. Carey also has a servant Dora Jollands 18 years living at the address.
He served with the 62nd Wing, Royal Air Force,He disappeared on a mission to locate targets in Macedonia and Thrace. He is buried in the Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli. grave reference K 9 The following is an extract from the Magnus School, Newark , diary of the 'Great War' :- Monday 22 July 1918: Leonard George Steel – taken prisoner in Africa, wounded in France – was killed in Greece at the tender age of 23. What a War for the Balderton grocer’s son whose adventures began when he earned a scholarship from Balderton Council School to the Magnus! On completion of his education he joined the Merchant Service and on the outbreak of war was taken prisoner off the East Coast of Africa. After his liberation was negotiated, he was attached to the Royal Naval Transport Service. While on one voyage, his ship was blown up by a mine on 12 January 1916 and young Len was the last to leave the vessel along with the Chaplain. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve and later transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service. He saw much action in France, most spectacularly in May 1917 when he was wounded by shrapnel that also pierced his engine. After recovery he was for some time restricted to an instructor’s role at Chingford until on 8 February 1918 he was sent to the East with 62 Wing, which was formed specifically to operate against Turkish targets in Macedonia and Thrace. He disappeared on one such mission. Lieutenant Steel is remembered in the Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli.
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