Leonard Curtis Creswell

He served in the army for 2 years and was in France before serving in Salonika. He died from gun shot wounds at the 86th Field Ambulance and was buried in Lahana Military Cemetery, Salonika (grave ref 3.B.30).

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace after strife'Nottingham Post obituary (abridged), 18 October 1916: 'Creswell. died of wounds on October 12th (sic) Lieutenant Leonard C Creswell, York and Lancaster Regt, only son of Mr and Mrs GM Creswell, Forest Lodge, Pelham Road, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, 18th October 1916:- “DIED OF WOUNDS. “LIEUT. LEONARD C. CRESWELL.“News has reached Mr. G. M. Creswell, Pelham-road, Nottingham, that his son, Lieut. Leonard C. Creswell, the York and Lancaster Regiment, died of wounds on October 12th. [1] Educated at Waverley School, Nottingham, and Magdeline College. Brackley, deceased joined the Nottingham University College O.T.C. on the outbreak of war, and received a commission in November, 1914. Six months later he proceeded to France, and also spent some time in Egypt. Well known in Nottingham athletic circles, he acted as secretary to the Magdala Football Club for some time.” 1] The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the date of death as 13th October 1916.above article and information are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 A family memorial (WMA 27339) was erected in Emmanuel church, St Ann's, Nottingham, which the family attended. Inscription: 'To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Leonard Curtis Creswell, only son of George Marshall and Louisa Creswell, who died of wounds received in action on the Balkan Front, Oct. 13th 1916, aged 21 years. Buried at Salonika.' The memorial was transferred at the family's request to St Augustine's church, Basford, when Emmanuel Church was closed and later demolished. St Augustine's church also closed and was demolished in 1989 and the memorial was returned to the safekeeping of the family.Extract from Emmanuel church parish magazine circa September/October 1916:'Lieut. Cresswell (sic):- I had not finished writing the above paragraphs when I was thunderstruck by the news of yet another irreparable loss in death from wounds on October 12th (sic) of Lieut Leonard Cresswell, York & Lancaster Regiment, only son of our staunch friend and many times Churchwarden, Mr GM Cresswell (sic). Lieut. Cresswell had been in the Army for two years, during which time he had spent only three days at home. He served six months in the trenches in France, his Battalion then proceeding to Salonika. This young Officer received his early education at Waverley School, the later years of his school life being passed at Magdalen College School, Brackley, one of the three Schools associated with that magnificent foundation Magdalen College, Oxford. From school, Lieut Cresswell came to study accountancy in his native city, while cricket and football occupied much of his leisure hours. Like so many others, he passed into the Commissioned ranks of the Army from our University College OTC, inspired by the personality of that truly great man Capt Trotman, the beloved and admired Commandant of the Corps.'Lieut Cresswell was the centre of quite a singular measure of affectionate goodwill, his sunny and lovable disposition winning friends innumerable. He too, was confirmed at school, and was always a most regular and reverent worshipper at “Emmanuel” when in Nottingham. During the last year or two, before the War, Mr Cresswell developed a bass voice of great promise, and often delighted us by his fine singing, as a Member of our Pierrot Troupe or otherwise. The last time we heard him at our Parish room he stirred us all to patriotic ardour with his rendering of “England Mine.” And now he has given the best proof of all that the song was by good right.'Nottingham Guardian - Thomas Forman & Sons: (Lieut Leonard Creswell) 'The Vicar has paid a tribute to the memory of Lieut. Leonard Cresswell (sic), but an added tribute will doubtless be allowed – on behalf of once-merry fellows, now saddened by the loss of a young comrade. His parents mourn a good son, his friends a staunch companion, his club a clean sportsman, and his country a true Briton – an officer and a gentleman. He would have desired to be one of the first to congratulate his friend Captain Leslie Foulds, with whom he was associated in various playlets, on his well-merited promotion. But “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits…” And friend Leonard’s exit was at least a glorious one; he died for his country! We had fond hopes that when peace was proclaimed it would be possible to hold one more “revel” – the happiest of all, with songs of Britain, and merriment – but the Pierrots’ thoughts are sad today … There are many folks at Emmanuel who will recall our comrade’s patriotic rendering of “For the Empire” at one of our Pierrot performances, the chorus of which ran:-“For the Empire, for the EmpireWe would gladly stand or fall;And we’ll give ourselves to the Empire,For we’re Britons one and all!”'And Lieut, Leonard has given himself for the Empire. W.A.B.'