Walter Leonard Bryan
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Walter Leonard (Leonard0 was the son of Joshua and Matilda Bryan (née Flatters). His father Joshua, was born in Coddington, Nottinghamshire, in 1848, the son of William and Anne Bryan, and baptised at Coddington All Saints on 2 July 1848. His mother Matilda was born in Newark, Nottinghamshire, on 11 June 1858, the daughter of Thomas and Maria Flatters. Her father, a plaster pit labourer, and mother were living with their children, including two year old Matilda, in Cross Guns Yard, Newark, in 1861. Joshua and Matilda were married at Coddington All Saints on 25 May 1875 and had 15 children of whom 13 survived infancy. Fourteen children have been traced on the census and birth registrations including Arthur who died young. All the children were born in Coddington and, with the exception of the youngest child, Margaret, baptised at the parish church of All Saints: Harriet b. 1876 (reg. J/F/M) bap. 5 February 1876; Hetty b. 1877 bap. 7 October 1877; John b. 1879 (reg. J/F/M) bap. 13 April 1879; Thomas b. 1881 (J/F/M) bap. 3 April 1881; Hannah Maria b. 1882 bap. 12 November 1882; Ellen b. 1884 bap. 16 November 1884; Joshua Flatters b. 19 August 1886 bap. 17 October 1886; Arthur b. 1888 (J/F/M) bap. 27 February 1888 d. 1888 (J/F/M); Alice Esther b. 1889 (J/F/M) bap. 29 May 1889; Ursula b. 6 June 1890 bap. 21 September 1890; Alfred b. 1892 (J/F/M) bap. 13 November 1892; Mary Ann b. 1894 bap. 19 August 1894; Walter Leonard (Leonard) b. 1899 (J/F/M) bap. 5 March 1899 and Margaret b. 10 April 1901. In 1881 Joshua, an agricultural labourer, and Matilda were living in Codding with their four children Harriet (5), Hetty (3), John (2) and Thomas (4 months). They had six more children in the next ten years one of whom, Arthur, died in infancy. The family was recorded living on Church Lane in 1891 and from their addresses on subsequent census records Joshua and Matilda probably continued to live in the village for the whole of their married life. In 1891 seven of their nine surviving children were still living at home: John, Thomas, Hannah (8), Ellen (6), Joshua (4), Alice (2) and Ursula (under one year). Alfred, Mary and Leonard had been born by 1901 and on the census of that year they and five other siblings - Thomas a malster, Hannah (18), Joshua a farm boy, Alice and Ursula - were living with their parents. Also in the home was Frank Bryan (4 months), Joshua and Matilda's grandson. In 1911 only Thomas a labourer in an ironworks, Leonard and Margaret were still in the family home. Joshua snr. died in 1917 and his sons Alfred and Leonard were killed in France within a month of each other in 1918. Their brother Joshua Flatters (b. 1886) may have served in the Yorkshire Regiment (8006 Sergeant). Matilda completed a form for the army in 1920 listing her son Alfred's surviving blood relatives. Mother: Matilda, 28 Church Lane, Coddington. Brothers: John (41), Wormsley near Doncaster. Thomas (39), [28 CHurch Lane] Coddington. Joshua (34), Swallow Beck Lincoln. Married Kate Smalley 1916. 1939: Scorer Street Lincoln. Died December 1952. Sisters: Harriet Kirkbright (44), Kirk Burton nr. Huddersfield. Married Sam Kirkbright 1900 (Wetherby Yorks). Hetty Wright (42), 182 North Gate Newark. Married Samuel Wright 1900. Hannah Richards (37), William Street Newark. Married Tom Richards 1902. Ellen Rushley (36), Elton nr. Newark. Married Thomas William Rushby 1902. Alice Redford (32), Mill Gate Newark. Married George Redford 1914. Ursula Barratt (30), Little Carlton Newark. Married Thomas W Barratt 1912. 1939: Crown Inn North Muskham. Died 1963. Mary Ann [Tregidgo], 20 Rhodesia Road Stockwell London. Married Frederick H Tregidgo 1915. Margaret Bryan (18), 20 Rhodesia Road Stockwell. Married James R Asher 1935. 1939: Main Street Balderton. Died 1965 When the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled the widowed Matilda was living at The Firs, Mills Drive, Newark; the register records that she was an old age pensioner and blind. Among those recorded in the household were her son Thomas and her married daughter Alice Redford and her husband George. Matilda died in 1941
Walter attested on 2 September 1916 at the age of 17 years 274 days. He was posted ot the 86th Training Reserve battalion, transferred to the 273rd Infantry Battalion and then 52nd (Grad) Bn Durham Light Infantry. He embarked Folkestone for the BEF France on 17 January 1918 and disembarked Boulogne the same day. Moved to Etaples he transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 20 January. He joined his battalion in the field on 25 January. Leonard was killed in action three months later on 22 April 1918 and is buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref II.0.21). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Brandhoek New Military Cemetery (extract): 'During the First World War, Brandhoek was within the area comparatively safe from shell fire which extended beyond Vlamertinghe Church. Field ambulances were posted there continuously. Until July 1917 burials had been made in the Military Cemetery, but the arrival of the 32nd, 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations, in preparation for the new Allied offensive launched that month, made it necessary to open the New Military Cemetery. The New Military Cemetery No 3 opened in August and continued in use until May 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Alfred joined the army in 1910 and served in the 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment (8950 Sergeant). He was killed in France on 21 March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Leonard made a Will in favour of his mother on 16 January 1918; the day before embarking for BEF France. Leonard's personal possessions were returned to his mother in August 1918. These comprised: disc and strap, letter, photos, pocket book, religious book.
