Reginald John Cary Leader
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Reginald was born in 1896 in Kettering and was the of Son of the Rev. George Charles and Fanny Selena Leader (née Hunt) of 16, Queensthorpe Rd., Sydenham, London. They had four children , Irene b1893 Bristol, Reginald J C b1896,Kettering, Helena b1898 Burton Latimer and Edith Marian b1900 Kegworth George Charles was born in Bristol in 1869 , his wife Fanny Selena Hunt was also born in Bristol in 1868 , they were married in Bristol in 1891 judging by the places of birth of their children the family seem to move about the country presumably in connection with Georges Baptist ministry. In the 1901 census the family are living at Station Road, Kegworth, Leicestershire. George is 32 years a Baptist minister and he is living at the address with his wife Fanny and their children , Irene, Reginald, Hena and Edith.In 1912 his parents moved to Stockton on TEES By the time of Reginald's death in 1916 his parents are living at 14 Queensthorpe Road, Sydenham, Surrey
Upon the declaration of war , Reginald enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry as a private and gained his commission twelve months later he was gazetted as temporary 2nd Lieut in the London gazette dated 6th January 1915. He first entered a theatre of war in France on 10th October 1915. He was killed in action on 28th April 1916 and is buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. 1.I.7 The following is an extract from the Magnus School, Newark , diary of the 'Great War' : - Thursday 28 April 1916: Another Baptist vicar’s son nicknamed Jack was killed in action; this time in France. Reginald Jonathan Carey Leader was only 20. The son of the Reverend George Charles and Mrs Leader, he earned a scholarship from Newark Wesleyan School to the Magnus and showed excellent promise both in his studies and sports. When his parents left Newark in 1912 for Stockton-on-Tees, he completed his studies at Stockton Grammar School then set out on a journalistic career. But when War broke out, he at once joined the Durham Light Infantry as a private and gained his commission twelve months later. He had been at the battlefront about nine months. Second Lieutenant Leader, 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, is remembered in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Ypres.
Article published in the Newark Advertiser 10th May 1916 :- Son of Rev. G.C. & Mrs Leader, his father was formerly Baptist Minister at Newark. A pupil at Newark Wesleyan School where he obtained a Magnus scholarship. While a student he showed excellent promise both in his studies and sports. When his parents left Newark some four years ago for Stockton-on-Tees, he resumed his work at Stockton Grammar School. Upon leaving he commenced on a journalistic career. But when war broke out, he at once joined the Durham Light Infantry as a private and gained his commission twelve months later. He went out to the front about nine months ago.
