Pte 29009 Henry Arthur Leyland

• Age: 22
• From: Grassendale, Liverpool
• Regiment: Royal Lancaster Regiment
• Died on Saturday 13th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Chocques Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: IV.C.19

Henry Arthur (Hal) was born in 1896 in Grassendale, Liverpool the son of Ralph Watts Leyland and his wife Letitia Mary Elsie (nee Heyn). He had two siblings; Ralph and Adelaide Letitia Mary. His father, born in Liverpool, was a ship owner and merchant, owner of R. W. Leyland & Co., Exchange Buildings, purchasing his first ship in 1875.  By 1881 the company owned six ships and persevered in the use of sailing ships long after other companies had turned to steam. His father was also a J.P. 

His mother, Letitia Mary Elise (née Heyn) was born in 1867 in Belfast, her father Gustavus Heyn was a ship broker and merchant, and her grandfather, of the same name, came from Danzig. His parents married in 1885 and had four children: Ralph, born in 1886, George 1888, and Adelaide Letitia Mary in 1892, all born in Upton. At some point before 1896 they moved across the Mersey to exclusive Grassendale Park, Liverpool, where their youngest child, Henry, was born. Although Hal was born in Liverpool, he was baptised in Upton, on 05th June 1896, his parents’ residence “Fairholme”, Grassendale.

In 1901 they are still living at “Fairholme”, on The Esplanade, Grassendale Park, a large, grade II listed building.  His father is 58, a ship owner, his mother is 33. They have  two of their children living with them; Adelaide, 9, and Henry, 5, along with three domestic servants: a cook, a housemaid, and a nurse. His  elder brother Ralph, 14, is a pupil at Rossall School in Fleetwood, and George, 12, is at Cranleigh School, Surrey.  It is not known where Hal was educated.

By 1909 his father’s business was floundering; poor trading conditions and competition from steamships caused management of the company to be taken over by J. H. Welsford & Co.

By 1911 the family have moved back to the Wirral, and are living at “Kenmuir Lodge”, in Mount Road, Upton. His father 69, is now retired and his mother is 43. Ralph, 24, is a ship broker, employer, Adelaide, 19, has no occupation.  Hal is 15, an apprentice in a cotton office.

He worked for the Cotton Brokers, Messrs Alex, Eccles and Co. and Hal was amongst the first to enlist at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The  King's Liverpool Regiment (part of the Cotton  contingent) as Private 15131.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He returned to the UK in November 1916 after he had suffered a Gun Shot Wound to the left knee. Following this he was stationed in Ireland, at Cork before returning to France on 30th March 1918 with the 8th Battalion of The King's Own (Royal Lancaster  Regiment) as Private 29009. 

Hal was killed in action on 13th April 1918, aged 22, and now rests at Choques Military Cemetery in France at plot IV.C.19 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"CHRIST IS THY STRENGTH AND CHRIST THY RIGHT"

A report of his death was featured in the Daily Post on 02nd May 1918:

Youngest son of Mr & Mrs R W Leyland, Upton, Birkenhead has been killed in action. He was 22 years of age and one of the first to join the "Pals" Battalion at Knowsley in 1914, leaving the offices of Messrs Alex.Eccles & Co. Cotton Brokers to do so. He was through the Somme campaign last year and came home wounded in November. On recovery he was stationed for some time at Cork, and returned to the front on March 30th for his third campaign. He was killed in action on April 13th a fortnight later. 

His father was the subject of a book entitled Champions of Sail - R W Leyland and his shipping line by David Walker. In the book it relates to an incident in 1914:

"Certainly in 1914 R W Leyland called a meeting in Upton School to ask for volunteers to join the army and his son, Hal Leyland, stood up and announced to the assembled company that he had signed up with the "Liverpool Pals" that day."

Hal's Army effects and a War Gratuity of £17 went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from November 1918.  At that time his parents were living at “Harefold”, Moreton Road, Upton; she later lived at 3 Aigburth Vale, Liverpool.

Hal is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Upton War Memorial 

St Mary's Church, Upton

Parish of Overchurch

International Cotton Association, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool

His father died in 1921, leaving £50 to his widow.

His brother George had a son born soon after Hal’s death, in July 1918, he named his son, Hal.

His brother Ralph earned his Master Mariner certificate before he was 20, and during the war served as Lt. Commander in the R.N.V.R. until 1916, when he married and applied for a position in Liverpool with the Examination Service. He retained the rank of Acting Commander on demobilisation after the war.

In 1939 his mother, now 72, is living in the Union Hotel (licensed residential hotel), The Parade, Neston, Cheshire.

She died in 1940, aged 73.

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