C.S.M 22453 John Leonard

• Age: 34
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guillemont Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: IV.L.9

John Leonard  was born in Liverpool on the 05^th June 1882, the third son of Laurence (or Lawrence) Leonard and his wife Mary (nee Daly)  He was baptised in St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Highfield Street, on 11^th June. His parents were both born in Wexford, Ireland, and married in Liverpool on the 29th February 1876 at St Brigid's Church, Bevington Hill. Lawrence was of Athol Street, whilst Mary was of Gildarts Gardens. They had nine children; John had older brothers Patrick and James, and younger siblings Lawrence, Margaretta, and Stephen. Three other children died in infancy.

A few months after the census was taken, on 22^nd August 1901, John enlisted in Bootle in the Loyal North Lancs Regiment. He was described as being 5’ 2 and a half inches tall, weighing 117 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.   His father Laurence, at 20 St. Hilda Street, is his next of kin. He served seven years (extended to eight) with the colours, in Gibraltar, South Africa, Mauritius, and South Africa again.  John was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 10/1/1906 and promoted to Corporal on 20/11/1906.

Whilst in South Africa, on 19^th June 1907, John was tried by Regimental Court Martial (typically used for lesser offences) and reduced to the ranks for ‘conduct to the prejudice, etc.’, forfeiting one Good Conduct Badge; he returned to duty the same day.  His Good Conduct Badge was restored on 9/9/1908.   He was transferred to the Reserves on 30/11/1908, at Wynberg Rest Camp near Cape Town. His service record noted at the time, ‘with permission to reside in South Africa ‘on conclusion of service’. John was discharged on 21^st August 1913 after completion of 12 years’ service.

On the 1911 Census his father is recorded as crew on the White Star SS “Pontic”, he was aged 51, a fireman born in Blackwater, Co. Wexford. His mother was sadly a patient at Rainhill County Asylum (admitted 1906) where she died aged 54 on the 10th October 1913. She was buried on the 15th October 1913 at Ford Cemetery. 

It has not been possible to establish whether or for how long John remained in South Africa or when he returned to England.  However, when he enlisted in 1914 he stated he had not lived outside of his father’s house for (the previous) three years.

John enlisted in Liverpool on 12^th November 1914, as Private 22453, No.2 company, 20^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 32 years and 5 months, and his occupation as labourer. The attestation page was filled in with the name William, crossed out and replaced with John. He was described as being 5’ 3 and a quarter inches tall, and weighing 133 lbs, 39” chest, with fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He gives his next of kin as his father Laurence Leonard, 3 Lowell Street, Walton. He states his previous service with the L.N.L Regiment and gives his discharge date.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain

Given his previous military experience, promotion was rapid.  John was promoted on probation to Corporal on 09th February 1915 and promoted to Lance Sergeant on 12th March 1915.  Whilst training at Knowsley near Liverpool on 10^th April 1915 John was admonished and forfeited one day’s pay for being absent without leave from midnight until 8 p.m. He was promoted to Sergeant on probation on 24^th May 1915.

On 21^st June, after the battalion had moved to Belton Park Camp in Lincolnshire, he was absent without leave from midnight until 7 a.m., for which he was reprimanded and forfeited another day’s pay. The battalion moved to Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain for final infantry training, and John shipped to France with his battalion on 7^th November 1915. 

John was promoted Acting C.S.M. on 16th February 1916.  He was granted leave to the UK from 16^th – 25^th May 1916.  On his return, the battalion is at Abbeville for specialist training for the ‘Big Push’.  When the Battle of the Somme began on 01^st July, the 20th battalion is in the front line trenches at Maricourt.

John survived the deadly days of July 1916 on the Somme, including the first day, when the 20^th took its objectives with 100 casualties of all ranks, until 30^th July, when three Pals battalions are involved in the failed attack on the German-held village of Guillemont.  With 500 casualties killed, missing, and later dying of their wounds, this becomes the deadliest day of the war for the Pals battalions and the City of Liverpool.

John was declared Wounded, his name appearing in the lists of Wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on 12^th September 1916, then reported as Killed on 02^nd November 1916.  His service record shows Wounded, then Missing, and his death in action later officially confirmed on 30^th July 1916. He was 34 years of age. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

John’s effects went to his father Laurence, brother James, and sister-in-law Emma.  His father, living at 3 Lowell Street, County Road, Liverpool, received a pension of 5/- a week.

His father died shortly afterwards, aged 68, in Mill Road Infirmary and was buried on the 11th April 1919 at Ford Cemetery.

His brother Lawrence enlisted in 1903 and served 12 years in 3^rd K.L.R., then the Army Service Corps with the B.E.F. in France. He died at 34 in 1919. His service record survives, and shows that in 1921, his parents were both dead, and only two siblings remained, his brother Patrick in Wexford, and his sister Mary in Widnes. 

He is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 24 Right (erroneously listed as Pte.)

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