Ernest Leonardi
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was born in Grimsby in 1890 and was the son of Allen Leonardi, a plasterer, and Elizabeth Ann Leonardi née Booth. His father Allen was born in 1863 in Nottingham and his mother Elizabeth Ann Booth was also born in 1863 in Nottingham. They were married in 1882; their marriage was recorded in the Nottingham Registration District. They went on to have 9 children; their children were :- Allen b1883 Grimsby, Florence b1884 Nottingham, Emily b1886 Grimsby, Lewis b1888 Grimsby, Ernest b1890 Grimsby, Albert b1891 Goole, Louisa b1900 Nottingham, Hettie b1905 Nottingham and Frank b1906 Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 55 Liddington Street, Nottingham and are shown as; Allen 48 yrs, head of the family a plasterer living with his wife Elizabeth 48 yrs and their children, Ernest 21 yrs a plasterer , Louisa 11 yrs a scholar, Hettie 6 yrs a scholar and Frank 5 yrs a scholar. Ernest married his wife Elizabeth Cooke at the Nottigham Registry Office on 17th August 1912, they lived at 47 Rye Street, New Basford. They had a son Ernest, who died in infancy, and a daughter Grace. Following his death his widow Elizabeth received a letter dated 24th June 1916 , infoming her that she would be receiving a pension to the sum of 15 shiilings in respect of her and her one child, effective from 26th June 1916. By 1918 his widow had remarried a Joseph Wright and they lived at 24, Gawthorne St, New Basford, Nottingham.
Private Ernest Leonardi enlisted in Worksop on 31st August 1914 he gave his age as 25 years his occupation as plasterer. His next of kin was his wife Elizabeth of 47 Rye Street, New Basford. On 12th 1914 he was posted to C Company, 6th battalion Linconshire Regiment. Leaving Liverpool on 1st July 1915 he landed at Helles on 18th July 1915 where men from the battalion spent ten days being given training in front line trench routine. Withdrawn to take part in the landings at Suvla, he was wounded 7th-11th August 1915, rejoining his unit on 17th November 1915. He was killed in action on 28th November at Gallipoli. He was one of 12 men from his unit to die that day. He is buried in Amzak Military Cemetery, Sulva, Gallipoli, grave reference 1.G.6
His brother Allen Leonardi also served in the Great War. He served with the King's Liverpool Regiment and was killed in action on 18th August 1916. Another brother, Lewis Leonardi, also served in The King's (Liverpool Regiment) during the Great War; he survived. Obituaries published in the Nottingham Evening posted dated 3rd March 1916 and 28th November 1916 :- “LEONARDI. – Killed in the Dardanelles, November 28th, 1915, Pte. Ernest Leonardi, 6th Lincolns, late 1, Olive-square, New Basford, aged 26 years. Duty nobly done. – Wife, child, mother, father, brothers, and sisters.” [3] “LEONARDI. – In loving memory of my dear husband, Ernest Leonardi, who was killed November 28th, 1915. Ever in our thoughts. – Wife and child, sister Emily.” Above obituaries courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook paged Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
