George Henry Leeson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Henry was born in 1898 the son of George Henry (senior) and Annie Leeson (née Faulkner). His father was born in 1872 in Nottingham and his mother in 1873 also in Nottingham. They were married in Nottingham in 1892 and went on to have nine children, one of whom died in infancy. Their eight surviving children were all born in Nottingham and were Jennie b.1889, Annie b.1893, Clara b.1896, George Henry b.1898, Albert b.1901, Ethel b.1904, William b. 1907, Frank b.1909. On both the 1901 and 1911 censuses the family was living at 18 Brewitts Yard, Albion Street, Nottingham. George snr was a cycle fitter. At the time of George's death he was engaged to Maggie.
His Army Service Record survives and it shows thathe was employed as a box maker. He enlisted at Nottingham on 2nd June 1915 from 8 Brewitts Yard, Albion Street. He gave his age as 19 although other records, including the BMD Index, show he was actually only 17. He was posted to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) when he disembarked in France on 20th December 1916. He was admitted to the 30th General Hospital in Calais three days later on 23rd December 1916 at suffering from scabies. Following his discharge from hospital on 10th January 1917 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was killed in action on 17th January 1917 and was buried in Vermelles British Cemetery (grave ref: V.E. 43).
In memoriam published 1st February 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “LEESON. – Killed in action, January 17th, 1917, Lance-Corpl. G. H. Leeson, Sherwood Foresters. Silently mourned. – Brothers and fiancée Maggie.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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