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.
Ernest Arthur Leather
Forename(s):
Ernest Arthur
Surname:
Leather
Initial(s):
E A
Service Number:
Officer
Rank:
Major
Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 15th (Reserve) Battalion attached to 27th (Service) Battalion (4th Tyneside Irish)
Died:
10/02/1916
Aged:
48
Buried:
Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix
Service History:
Joined the 5th Militia Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant, 23 May, 1900. Served at Malta during the South African War. Retired with the rank of Captain in 1910. Rejoined his old regiment in August 1914, & appointed 2nd-in-command of the 10th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Promoted to the rank of Major in October 1914 but was unable to go overseas with his battalion because he had a bad accident, caused by the falling of a horse.
On his recovery, posted to 15th (Reserve) Battalion. He was then attached to 27th Battalion & disembarked in France on 11 January, 1916. Leather was killed in action near Fleurbaix on 10 February, 1916.
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; Part 1; Page 222)
Background:
Born on 18 October, 1868, at South Penge, Surrey, the third 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 privately.
One of 3 sons lost - see, also, Lieutenant Christopher (Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd [Reserve] Battalion attached to the 1st Battalion; Died 25 October 1914) & Captain Edward Wilberforce Leather (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own [Yorkshire Regiment], 3rd [Reserve] Battalion; Died 18 April 1915)
At 6 ft 3 in, Leather was the tallest of six brothers. 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.
Married Mildred Louise (née Harrison, daughter of Charles Augustus Harrison) on 25 October 1904 at Hexham Abbey. They had two children, Vivien Mildred (b. 22 March 1907) & Anne du Sautoy (b. 13 September 1913).
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; Part 1; Page 221)
Local Memorial:
Belford War Memorial
