Pte 84856 William Edward Leece

William Edward Leece was born in Peel, German Parish, Isle of Man, on 21st September 1889, the eldest son of Thomas (Tom) Leece and Sarah (née Cowin). Both parents were born in the Isle of Man, his father in Patrick, and his mother in Peel.  They married in 1889 and had seven children, one of whom died in infancy. William had younger siblings Eleanor, Thomas, John, Phillip, and Lucy.  William (possibly known as Edward) was baptised on 25th September 1889 in German Parish Church.

 

In 1891 William, age 1, is living with his mother at 25 Mona Street, Peel, with the large Craine family, whose father is away at sea.  Sarah, is listed as a fisherman’s wife. Her husband is not in the household, most likely away at sea, as are most of the husbands in the street.

 

The 1901 census finds them in Kirby Road, Peel. His father, 44, is a fisherman, his mother is 41, William is 11, Eleanor 8, Thomas 6, John 4, Phillip 7 months. Sadly, Phillip died later that year, at age 1.  His father speaks both Manx and English the rest of the family only English. 

 

In 1911 his mother, and five children, are at 9 Bridge Street, Peel.  His mother Sarah, 50, married, is listed as a charwoman.  W. Edward, is  a single 21 year old mason, Eleanor, 18, is a domestic servant, Thomas, 16, and John, 14, are errand boys, and Lucy 8. His father is away.

 

His mother Sarah died in June 1914 aged 54.

 

In the Peel City Guardian, 1st May 1915:

 “A somewhat serious accident occurred in Peel on Monday morning, when Mr. William Leece, of Bridge Street, fell off a scaffolding.  Mr. Leece, who was in the employ of Mr. S. Kelly, builder, was engaged in the erection of the new coal shed at Peel Gas Works, and was working on a scaffold when in moving about he stepped on a stone and overbalanced, falling to the ground more than twenty feet below.  The ground was very rough where the unfortunate man fell, but fortunately his injuries were not so serious as might have been expected.  He sustained a severe cut to the back of the head and a very severe shaking. No bones were broken but the injuries are of such a character that he will be some little time before he will be able to get about again and resume his work.”

 

When conscription was introduced in 1916, William applied for an exemption. The Local Tribunal sat at Peel, with a representative from the Military authorities, reported in the Peel City Guardian, on 27th May 1916.  The conditional exemption of Wm E. Leece, of Bridge Street, was agreed to. 

 

His exemption was reviewed one year later. The Peel City Guardian reported that the conditional exemption of Wm E. Leece, stone mason of Bridge Street, was withdrawn, but the Military were asked not to call him up for one month. 

 

William appealed against the decision. The Appeal Tribunal heard 25 cases, as reported in the Peel City Guardian on 23rd June 1917:  “William Edward Leece, 26 Bridge Street, Peel, stone mason. - His case was heard in private at the request of the applicant for business reasons.  It was a personal appeal against the decision of the local tribunal. The Appeal Tribunal confirmed the decision. - The man must join.”

 

William enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool, in the 14th Bn, King’s Liverpool Regiment, as Private 84856, and was subsequently transferred to the 18th Bn K.L.R. He was killed in action on the 10^th October 1918 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918). 

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenburg Line and pursues the retreating German army.  The battalion War Diary records -  

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510.  Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. …  Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy.  At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU.  The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself.  Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley.

Total Casualties from 7th to 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.

Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.

Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R.

William was one of the casualties referred to in the diary, he now rests at Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau,  France.

After the Battle of Le Cateau (26 August 1914), the town remained in German hands until the middle of October 1918. The original cemetery (Plot III) was made by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division after the fighting of 17 October; the name of Highland Cemetery is suggestive at once of the comparatively high ground on which it stands and of the 32 graves of the 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion, Black Watch, found in this plot. The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves of October and November 1918 were brought in from isolated positions on all sides of Le Cateau. Highland Cemetery now contains 624 First World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

 

His siblings announced his death in the Peel City Guardian, 2nd November 1918:

“On October 10th, killed in action, Pte. William E. Leece, King’s Liverpool Regiment, eldest son of the late Thomas and Sarah Leece, Bridge Street, Peel.  ‘His duty nobly done’. ”

 

The pension card under the name Edward William, in the name of his youngest sister Lucie Lilian Leece, at 26 Bridge Street, does not show that a pension was paid.  Lucie received his effects of £19-6s-7d, including a War Gratuity of £7. 

 

William Edward is commemorated on the following memorials -