No.240650, Corporal, William Robert LEATHERS
Aged 34
Born on 14th July 1883 (3rd qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:614) son of Frederick and Harriett LEATHERS (née CAMPION)
1891 census...Aged 7, he was at 28 Cemetery Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Frederick LEATHERS [42] iron moulder; his mother Harriett [43] born Downham, Norfolk; brothers John [15] and James [5]; sisters Elizabeth [10] and Gertrude [1]. All except his mother were born in Bury St.Edmunds. 1901 census...Aged 17, an iron moulder, he was at 1 Foundry Cottages with his parents; brother Harry [17] iron foundry fitter, John journeyman wood sawyer and James; sisters Elizabeth and Gertrude. On 24th April 1905 he married Alice Maude NORMAN [16-6-1882] at St John's Bury St.Edmunds 1911 census...Aged 15 Alexander Cottages, Northgate, Bury St.Edmunds with his wife Alice [29]; daughters Gertrude Clarice [19-9-1905] , Evelyn Phyllis [28-1-1907], Eliza []23-8-1908] and Dorothy Mabel [4-7-1910]. All born Bury St.Edmunds. THey went on to have four more children; Frederick William James [4-7-1912], Sydney Herbert Edward [2-3-1914], Gladys Violet [5-12-1915] and Harry Alfred {}20-54-1918] His father died in 1912. His brother James Charles died of wounds in Egypt in 1917 see here |
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. On the 26th the battalion had taken part in a successful attack and captured Zonnebeke. On the 27th it was relatively quiet apart from some sniper fire. In the evening the Germans mounted a counter-attack but this was beaten off. It may have been relatively quiet but 22 of the 2nd Suffolk s were killed that day, none with a known grave click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |