Category Archives: Regiments

Alfred Leadbetter

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Somme

Alfred Leadbetter
Sergeant 7023
1st Hampshire Regt.

Division 82
Extension

Leadbetter A photo Leadbetter A Rcem com

Alfred Leadbetter  was the son of John and Sarah Leadbetter, of Stratfield Turgis, Basingstoke.  He was the husband of Annie Maria Chambers (formerly Leadbetter) of 37, Amity Road, Reading.   He is commemorated on his son’s grave, number not yet known *.

Alfred Leadbetter was killed in action on the 1st July 1916.  This was the first day of the Somme Battle. Martin Middlebrook in “The First Day on the Somme” states ‘Every battalion was supposed to enter a daily account of its activities in its War Diary, this becoming the official record.  The 1st Hampshires suffered so severely that no one could be found at the end of the day to describe, reliably, what had happened.  Its War Diary entry for 1 July reads:

Our casualties in officers amounted to 100% and was also heavy in other ranks. (Public Record Office WO95/1495)’

That was all that could be found to describe the battle in which the Hampshires lost twenty-six officers and 559 men.  The destruction of the battalion was so complete nothing was known of what really happened to it.  Among the total was Alfred Leadbetter who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing Pier and Face 7B and 7C.

Philip George Knightley

Army, Graves, Old Contemptible, Other Regiments

Captain Philip George Knightley
Royal Army Medical Corps.
Old Contemptible

Division 12

Captain Philip George Knightley death was announced in the Reading Std April 9th 1965.

A Boer War Veteran and Old Contemptible who died in the Battle Hospital, Reading aged 88.

The standards of the British Legion and the Old Contemptibles were flown at the funeral, both at the service in St. John’s Church, Watlington St., and at the Cemetery.  Members of both organisations joined family mourners.

Capt. Knightley, lived at 1 Watlington St. Reading, where he had a general provisions business.  He joined the RAMC in 1894 and served in South Africa.  He was the holder of both the Queen’s and King’s South African medals.  During the First World War he fought on many battle fields and was mentioned in dispatches on three occasions.  He also held long service and good conduct medals.  He was commissioned in 1916 and was a Captain on his discharge in 1926 after completing 32 years service.

He joined the British Legion and was appointed county secretary for Berks. in 1939.  He held the position until failing eyesight forced him to retire in 1959.  As well as being a life member of the Legion, Captain Knightley was awarded its gold badge.  When he retired he was presented with a cheque for 100 guineas, the money having been subscribed by the 50 branches in the county.  He was president of the Reading branch of the Old Contemptibles.

Captain Knightley left a widow, two sons and a daughter, 12 grandchildren and 2 great grand children.

William Lawrence & Frank Lawrence

Army, Canadian, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

William Lawrence
Sapper 150378
Railway Troops Depot

Frank Lawrence
Sapper 782136
13th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops

War Plot
Division 71 & 72

Lawrence Wm photo Lawrence F photo

The brothers were the sons of Jonas and Louisa Lawrence of Diddenham Cottages, Grazeley. Frank was the younger of their two sons. They boys had three sisters. The 1911 census indicates that only Frank and his sister May were living at home. Frank and his father both worked with horses at a farm in Aldermaston.

William died of blood poisoning on 22 July 1916 aged 25. It is not known how this was contracted.

Frank died of influenza and broncho-pneumonia on 13/2/1919, aged 23. He is buried in Division 64 VI E. 2. Sainte Marie Cemetery Le Harve. Le Harve was the main British base and home to three general and two stationary hospitals as well as four convelescent depots.