Sgt 57831 Leonard Conolly

• Age: 25
• From: Clapham, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 1st May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Leonard was born in Woolwich in 1892  the son of William Robert Conolly and his wife Florence Rebecca (née Newey) who were married on Christmas Day 1887 at St Paul, Rectory Grove, Clapham. William was an engineer of 563 Westminster Rd, father Daniel an engineer, whilst Florence was aged 22 of 109 Heath Rd, father David a builder. His father was born in Manchester, and his mother in Lambeth. Leonard was the third of their four sons. His brothers were William, Herbert, and David. 

In 1901 the family were living at 22 Balfour Road, Dover, Kent. His father, William, is aged 35, a Staff Sergeant in the Army Ordnance Corps, his mother, Florence is aged 35. They have four children in the household; William 12, Herbert 10, Leonard is 8 and David 7. 
 
His father died in London, aged 42, in 1908 when Leonard was 16. 

His father had served as an Army Quartermaster Sergeant. From approximately 1889 – 1891 they lived in Dartmouth, Devon, where the two older boys were born. By 1892 they had moved to Woolwich, where Leonard and David were born.

In 1911 his widowed mother, Florence, is aged 45, and is head of household at 29 Brayburne Avenue, Clapham. William 22, is a chemist’s clerk, Herbert 20, a bookbinder’s clerk, Leonard is 19, employed as a chemist’s clerk, and David 18, a GPO messenger.  

His mother Florence died in July 1917, aged 51.

His brother Herbert was killed in action, age 26, on 27th November 1917, serving with the London Rifles. He now rests at Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel/Palestine

Leonard enlisted in Fulham, London, formerly as Private 1795, London Regiment and following a transfer, was serving in the 17^th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant No 57831 when he was killed in action on the 01st May 1918, aged 26, during the German Spring Offensive.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. 

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His older brother, William, served in the 1st County of London Yeomanry.

Leonard’s, Soldiers Effects, Army Pay and War Gratuity was shared by his two surviving brothers, William and David (£18 12s 4d each). No pension record was found.  

His Medal Roll shows that he served in three of the Liverpool Pals battalions, the 18th/20th and 17th K.L.R. He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

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