Harry Leonard Leaver: Wednesday 15th November 1916
Harry enlisted 11 November 1915 as Private 5241 at Armoury House, Finsbury into 1st Batt. Hon. Artillery Company. His attestation form describes him as age 24 & 10 mth, 5’4½” tall, 33” chest with 2½” expansion and fair physical development. He embarked for France on 22 September 1916 and was killed in action some 6 weeks later. He was buried and later reburied in Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel.
His effects returned to his family were – safety razor, mirror broken, brush and comb, badge, wrist watch broken, and a holdall.
Harry’s family had lived at 55 Charminia Road Tooting but had moved to 34 Cockerton Road. His parents were Edward (manager in Brewing Company) and Ellen. Harry was one of three children with brothers Elias 2 years younger and Edward Martin 11 years his junior. He was an apprentice in the woollen trade by 1911.
It appears he did not leave a will as his family were asked to provide a witnessed statement of his next of kin. At 15 May 1919 he had 2 surviving brothers still living at 24 Cockerton Road, Edwin Martin age 17 and Elias Walter age 27 and no sisters. The statement was witnessed by Rev J M Crawford Murray of Holy Trinity Church.