Leonard Boden Shipstone
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Leonard Boden Shipstone was born in 1897 the son of Edward and Elizabeth Boden Shipstone, née Mellor. Edward was born in 1862 in Eastwood and Elizabeth Boden Mellor was born in 1859 at Ilkeston, Derbyshire. They were married in 1885 (Basford Registration District) and had eight children, sadly one died in infancy. Their surviving children were: Elizabeth Ann b1887 Greasley, Percy b1890 Eastwood, Harold b1891 Eastwood, Ethel b1893 Eastwood, Leonard b1897 Eastwood, Florence b1899 Giltbrook and Ilford Rhoda b1903 Giltbrook. In 1911 the family was living at Nottingham Road, Giltbrook and were shown as Edward a colliery banksman, his wife Elizabeth and their children Elizabeth Ann a dress maker, Percy a grocery assistant, Harold a baker/confectioner, Ethel a draper's assistant, Leonard an errand boy, Florry a scholar and Rhoda. His father Edward died on 13th August 1919 aged 57 yrs and his mother Elizabeth died 23rd January 1934 aged 75 yrs.
Leonard Boden Shipstone enlisted at Nottingham. He died of wounds on 18 May 1917 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France (grave ref. XVIII.O.5.) CWGC – History of Etaples Military Cemetery (extract): The town of Etaples is about 27 km from Boulogne. ‘During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the QMAAC convalescent depot remained.’ (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Percy Shipstone served in the war with the Cheshire Regiment (50870 Private) and died of wounds on 23 June 1917. He is also buried in Etaples Military Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription:'Thy will be done God is love 1. JOHN 4. CH. 16 V.' CWGC: ' Son of Edward and Elizabeth Boden Shipstone, of Nottingham Rd., Gilt Brook, Notts.' Family grave, Greasley St Mary: 'In loving memory of Edward Shipstone, died Aug. 13th 1919, aged 47 years. Elizabeth Boden Shipstone his beloved wife died Jan. 23rd 1934 aged 75 years. Also their beloved sons Leonard Boden Shipstone died of wounds in France May 18th 1917, aged 21 years. Percy Shipstone, died of wounds in France June 23rd 1917, aged 28 years.’
