Category Archives: Alfred Sutton School War Memorial

Leonard William Levey

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Ypres

Leonard William Levey
Private 44209
2/23 Bn.East Surrey Regiment

Little is known of Leonard William Levey except that he waskilled in action on 2 September 1918 during the time of the final British advance. He is buried at Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Cemetery, location V.E.17.

The 1911 census spells his name as Lenard William Levy and gives his address as 101, Orts Road, Reading. There were seven children living at home between the ages of 25 and four years; Leonard’s age is given as eleven years. His mother had borne twelve children in total although four had died. Alfred Levey, father was recorded as a miller at the biscuit factory and of those old enough to work all except one were employed at the biscuit factory. In 1911 Leonard was still at school.

Two battalions of the 23rd were found during the First World War for overseas service with a reserve battalion at home. The 1/23rd fought in France and Flanders from March 1915 until the end of hostilities in 1918, being involved in actions at Festubert, Loos, the Somme in 1916 and 1918, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai, Lille and Tournai. Casualties were heavy, 237 being killed and 262 wounded at Givenchy during the Battle of Festubert. The 2/23rd went initially to France in June 1916 but later went to Salonika and then to Egypt to take part in General Allenby’s offensive against the Turks in Palestine. Finally they returned to France in 1918 and saw action around Ypres. http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/militia_vol_territorial/mvt19_1.html 

Leonard William would have been about 18 years old at the time of his death and it is not known when he joined his battalion. His name is on the Alfred Sutton School war memorial.

Percy Francis Kington

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Y.M.C.A.

Percy Francis Kington
Rifleman 554923
16th Battalion London Regiment, Queens Westminster Rifles

Kington PF grave

Percy Francis Kington  was the son of John and Marion Kington (nee Blow) of 1, Hamilton Road. He was one of six children according to the 1901 census. No records have been found of Percy in 1911. He is believed to have been born in 1899.

He is buried at Maroeuil British Cemetery, in the Pas-de Calais,  location IV. H.11.  He died on 16th March 1918, killed in action, in the build up to the German Spring offensive which is officially deemed to have begun on 21st March 1918. Percy was about 19 years old.

Percy Francis Kington is also commemorated on the family grave in the Reading cemetery.  His name can be found on the kerbs in Division 62, 13103.  The headstone bears the names Kington, Hooper-Blow and Greaves.  (Berkshire Family History Classification is 62D41) His name is commemorated on the Alfred Sutton School memorial and also that of the YMCA

Horace John Hodges

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Berkshire Yeomanry

Horace John Hodges
Trooper 50109
Berkshire Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps

Hodges HJ photo

 Horace John Hodges was the son  of John Henry and Alice Mary Hodges 95 De Beauvoir Road.  He joined the Berkshire Yeomanry in 1912 and was killed in action on 1st May 1918 aged 23.    In spite of the intimation that his body had been found he had no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial panel 7.

Casualty Record Detail

 

An article, reproduced below, was published in the Reading Chronicle 26th June 1918.

Signaller’s Death 

Mr Hodges of 95, De Beauvoir road, Reading, has received the sad intelligence that his son Horace, who was a signaller, was killed in action on the banks of the Jordan on May 1st.  His Lieutenant writes that owing to the corps having to yield ground at the time the deceased was left where he fell with three or four others but on going over the ground again that night graves were found, the deceased no doubt being one of them.  The lieutenant added “he and all the boys had done well that morning, carrying out their duties and disregarding personal danger.  Signaller J. T. Rhodes, a Reading lad, who was formerly under Mr. W. J. Hodges in the Spring Gardens Band, writes: ”We were called out at midnight and had to march all night.  We had to  advance over the hills.  When we got in close contact with the enemy it was awful – absolutely raining bullets.  Poor Horace laid down and only fired one shot before he was hit, a bullet penetrating his heart.  His loss is deeply regretted by all his friends.”  Signaller Hodges joined the Berkshire Yeomanry six years ago, when he was 17 years of age, and arrived in Egypt with the first contingent on April 22nd 1915, the anniversary of his birth.  He had been in Egypt continually since that time, not having taken any leave.  He did not take part in the Gallipoli* fighting, as he was suffering from poisoning at the time, but he went through the Arab campaign, having been transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps, and has been in much sever fighting since his last letter, which has recently arrived telling of hardships and difficulties of the fighting in the Palestine hills.  He was 23.

 * When he recovered from his illness he was put in charge of the horses in Cairo.