McDOUGALL, Leslie Charles


No.8680, Corporal, Leslie Charles McDOUGALL
Aged 21


B Squadron, 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
Died of his Wounds on Sunday, 1st September 1918


Born on 13th November 1897 in Bury St.Edmunds (4th qtr 4a:824) son of Peter and Jane McDOUGALL (née PEARL)

1901 census...Aged 4, he was at 131/132 Cemetery Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his aunt widow Louisa PALMER [34] publican, his grandmother Mary A PEARL [72]; his mother Jane McDOUGALL [28]; his sister Olive G [3]. All were born in Bury St.Edmunds.

1911 census...Aged 14, he was at 89 Market Street, Hythe, Kent with his father Peter McDOUGALL [39] Lipton's canteen manager born Dublin; his mother Jane; sister Olive Gladys Pearl McDougall.

His parents were eventually at 7 Gracechurch Street, London.


He enlisted in Southampton in January 1914, when resident in London. Wounded on 8th August 1918 near Bayonvillers, France, he died of his wounds in King's Street Hospital, London.

The day he was wounded, "B" Squadron The Bays were advancing on BAYONVILLERS. The war diary has:-
At 8:15 am a message was received that the Infantry had taken their first objective, and "B" Squadron moved to P.31.c. to keep in touch with the Infantry and Tanks
A patrol to BAYONVILLERS found the enemy still holding the eastern end of the village but, as a tan k was still advancing Capt MAGNAY decided to push past BAYONVILLERS to Q.32 and 33 central. A report was received the the advance was held up south of BAYONVILLERS which could not be obtained by "A" Squadron
As Infantry were nearing the Red Line, Capt MAGNAY decided to push through the Infantry to Q.35 central. With Lt CARABINE's Troop in advance he proceeded to cross the old AMIENS Defence Line.The Advance Troop was heavily fired upon by machine guns and suffered several casualties, so the Squadron took up a position behind the railway line in R.31, where the enemy showed signs of counter-attack.
At 12:30 pm a message was received to withdraw to Brigade Reserve.
Capt MAGNAY's patrols were held up, but penetrated between VAUVILLERS -PRAMERVILLE as far as X.9. central, where they rounded up numerous enemy parties.
At X.7.a there was a train which was hit by a bomb and its crew of 3 men surrendered to Lieut COCKRILL, one man naked and badly burned.
The two patrols joined up south of FRAMERVILLE and entered the village from the south. In the main street they saw two armoured cars (probably our own) which fired upon them killing a horse and wounding one man. At 11 am the enemy were still holding the north of the village.
The patrols rejoined about 12:10 pm, coming back through the enemy line under heavy machine gun fire. The patrol accounted for at least two officers and 77 other ranks as prisoners.
The Regiment spent the night in support in the Valley at W.26, where is was shelled incessantly, suffering however no casualties.






photo Adrian Pye



Leslie McDougall is buried in Bury St.Edmunds Cemetery 71:249

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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