Pte 235240 John Thomas Leeming

• Age: 37
• From: Walmersley
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 28th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

John Thomas Leeming was born in 1880 in Walmersley, near Bury, Lancashire. He was the son of Henry Leeming and his wife Alice (née Hopkinson) who married in Bury in 1878. 

The 1891 Census, shows John Thomas is living with his parents at 22 Mount Pleasant, Walmersley. His father, Henry, is aged 37, a chemical labourer born in Accrington. His wife, Alice, and their eight children were all born in Bury. Alice is aged 38, born Tottington, William Henry is aged 12, is a cotton warehouseman, John Thomas, is aged 10, is a cotton warehouseman, James Edward is aged 9 a scholar, Richard, is aged 7 a scholar, Robert, is aged 5, Albert, is aged 1.

The 1901 Census shows John Thomas living with his parents at 35 Mount Pleasant, Bury. His father, Henry is aged 47, born 1854, has no occupation listed and was born in Accrington. His wife Alice and their eight children were all born in Bury. Alice is aged 48, born 1853, no occupation, William H aged 22, born 1879 is a cotton warehouseman, John aged 20, born 1881, James aged 18, born 1883 and Richard aged 17, born 1884 are all cotton weavers, Robert aged 15, born 1886 is an apprentice clogger, Albert aged 11, born 1890, Alice aged 8, born 1893 and Harry aged 7, born 1894 are of school age.  

John was the husband of Leah (nee Brearley), born non the 05th July 1878 in Walmersley, near Bury. They married at Christ Church, Walmersley, Bury in 1907. They went on to have a daughter Mary Alice, born on the 28th May 1907. 

The 1911 Census shows John and his family living at Sedger Hey, Lower Bury. John Thomas is aged 30, born in 1881 and occupation Cotton weaver of fancy quiltings and his wife, Leah, is aged 32 was employed as a maker of quilts when bleached. Their daughter Mary Alice is aged 3.

His parents were living at 37 Nangreaves, Bury. His father, Henry, is aged 57, and is a general labourer Alice is aged 58. They advised that they have been married  for 32 years, and have had 8 children, 7 of whom have survived. Richard, is aged 26, Albert, is aged 21, Alice, is aged 18 and Henry, is aged 16.

His father died on 01st May 1915, aged 61, in Walmersley.

He enlisted in Rochdale and originally served as Private 203593 in the Yorkshire Regiment and  following a transfer was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 235240 when he was killed in action on the 28th July 1917, aged 37.

Reported wounded in Rochdale Times on the 8th September 1917, from Littleborough.

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

From JainVince on GWF:-

His name is inscribed on the Littleborough Cenotaph.

He was one of 6 soldiers who died for King and Country who are remembered on the Rakewood Village Roll of Honour (now in Littleborough's History Centre) which was located in St Hilda’s Church, Hollingworth, it was retained by a local farmer when the church was closed.

The 1911 Census shows John and his family living at the Farm Cottage, Lower Sedger Hey, Lower Bury. John Thomas is aged 30, occupation Cotton weaver of fancy quiltings, his wife Leah, aged 32, was employed as a maker of quilts when bleached. Their daughter Mary Alice is aged 3.

His parents were living at 37 Nangreaves, Bury. His father Henry is aged 57, a general labourer Alice is aged 58(married 32 years, 8 children, 7 still alive), with Richard aged 26, Albert 21, Alice 18 and Henry 16.

We currently have no further information on John Thomas Leeming, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.