Christopher Leather

Forename(s):
Christopher

Surname:
Leather

Initial(s):
C

Service Number:
Officer

Rank:
Lieutenant

Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion attached to the 1st Battalion

Died:
25/10/1914

Aged:
32

Buried:
Le Touret Memorial (Le Touret Military Cemetery)

Service History:
In November 1899, commissioned as Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Served in South Africa from January 1900 to May 1902, where he served with distinction in the Mounted Infantry.

In 1901 he received a regular commission in the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, with which he remained until the conclusion of the campaign, receiving the Queen's medal with 3 clasps, & the King's medal with 2 clasps.

Retired from the Army in 1904 but re-joined his old Regiment on 20 August 1914. Went to France as a Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Fusiliers & was later attached to the 1st Battalion.

Killed in action near Neuve Chapelle. Date of death varies as between 25-27 October 1914.

His Commanding Officer wrote of him after he was killed: 'A good officer & a cheery friend'.
(Source: 'The Bond of Sacrifice'; Volume 1, August to December 1914; Page 223)

Background:
Born on 15 July 1882, at The Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire, the sixth & youngest 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 first at Mr. Bailey's Preparatory School at Limpsfield, afterwards privately.

Leather was an expert motorist, a keen amateur sailor, & a fisherman. He was unmarried.

One of 3 sons lost - see, also, Captain Edward Wilberforce Leather (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own [Yorkshire Regiment], 3rd [Reserve] Battalion; Died 18 April 1915) & 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 severely wounded, & the eldest, Major G. F. T. Leather, Northumberland Fusiliers, was, then (1916) on active service.
(Sources: 'The Bond of Sacrifice', Volume 1, August to December 1914, Page 223; & 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18', Part 1, Page 221)

Local Memorial:
Belford War Memorial Ingram, St. Michael & All Saints' Church, Plaques & stained-glass window 'Alnwick & County Gazette', 14 November 1914.