World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
Edward Wilberforce Leather
Forename(s):
Edward Wilberforce
Surname:
Leather
Initial(s):
E W
Service Number:
Officer
Rank:
Captain
Regiment:
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment), 3rd (Reserve) Battalion
Died:
18/04/1915
Aged:
35
Buried:
Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper
Service History:
Joined 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (5th West Yorkshire Militia) in 1899. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1900. Served in the South African War 1899 to 1902 & received the Queen's medal & the King's medal, both with 2 clasps. Retired from the Army in 1904.
Rejoined his regiment on the outbreak of war, in August 1914. Served with the Expeditionary Force from November 1914. Promoted to Captain in February 1915, & attached to 2nd KingÂ’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Leather was killed in action at Hill 60, near Ypres, on 18 April, 1915.
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; Part 1; Page 221)
Background:
Born on 23 November, 1879, at The Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire, the fifth son of the late Frederick John Leather, J.P., of Middleton Hall, Belford & his wife Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia (née Walters, daughter of the Rev. Charles Walters, M.A., Oxon).
Educated at Hazelwood Preparatory School & Wellington College.
One of 3 sons lost - see, also, Lieutenant Christopher (Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd [Reserve] Battalion attached to the 1st Battalion; Died 25 October 1914) & Major Ernest Arthur Leather (Northumberland Fusiliers, 15th [Reserve] Battalion attached to 27th [Service] Battalion [4th Tyneside Irish]; Died 10 February 1916).
All six sons served during the Boer War & First World War. The second & fourth, Captain P. C. du Sautoy Leather & Lieut.-Colonel Kenneth J. Walters Leather, were severly wounded, & the eldest, Major G. F. T. Leather, Northumberland Fusiliers, was, then (1916) on active service.
Unmarried.
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; Part 1; Page 221)
Local Memorial:
Belford War Memorial
