Leonard Grocock
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Leonard was born in 1895 in New Basford and was the son of Thomas a coal miner/hewer and Ann Mary Grocock, of 10, Whitbread St. New Basford. His father Thomas was born in 1860 in Old Basford and his mother Annie Mary was born in 1859 in Nottingham, they were married C1882 (no trace of marriage in BDM index ) and went on to have 12 children, six of whom were to die in infancy or childhood, their surviving 6 children were all born in the Basford area and were :- Albert b1883, Clement b1884, Ethel b1889, Royce b1893, Leonard b1895 and Eliza b1899. In the both the 1901 and 1911 census the family are living at 21 Fisher Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, in the 1911 census they are shown as Thomas 49 yrs a coal miner hewer, head of the family he is living with his wife Annie Mary 48 yrs and three of their children , Royce 18 yrs a brass finisher, Leonard 16 yrs a bobbin maker and Eliza 12 yrs a scholar. At the time of his death his parents were living at 10 Whitbread Street, New Basford.
Private Leonard Grocock enlisted in Nottingham and served with the depot battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He died in hospital at Dewsbury of pneumonia on 26th January 1919, his body was returned to his family and he was buried in Basford Cemetery, Nottingham.
His elder brother Clement Grocock also served in the Great War. He enlisted at the beginning of the war on 3rd September 1914, and served with 8th Bn Leicestershire Regiment 13497 Private). He was killed in action on 15th July 1916. His body was never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Thievpal Memorial, Somme. In memoriam published on 26th January 1920 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “In loving memory of Pte. Leonard Grocock, died January 26th, 1919, at Dewsbury Hospital, dearly loved son of Mr. and the late Mrs. Grocock. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – Father, sisters, and brothers.”
