Albert LEACH

28 July 1916

LEACH – Killed in action in France, Gunner Albert Leach, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leach, Hawes.

28 July 1916

HAWES SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION – “Died Standing to His Gun”

Gunner Albert Leach, aged 23, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leach, Hawes, has been killed in action. A letter from the Captain commanding his Battery was received by Mr. and Mrs. Leach on Saturday, and states:– “I am writing a few lines to sympathise with you in your sorrow at the loss of your son. I hope you will find consolation in the fact that he died standing to his gun, and doing his duty as a true soldier should. Practically his last action was to load a shell and despatch it against the Germans. You will be glad to hear that we were able to secure a clergyman of his own denomination to read the service, and the grave is marked by a cross with his name cut into it.”

Gunner Leach, with his brother and four other companions, joined up in October 1914, and left home for the Army on November 16th. They were marched to the station by the Hawes Brass Band and received a hearty send-off by their fellow townspeople. He was a fine stalwart young fellow, over 6 feet in height, and a noted local athlete, a good sprinter and high jumper. He is the first of the Hawes recruits to make the supreme sacrifice, and his name is the first to be inscribed on the town’s recruits Roll of Honour. No Military Service Act was needed to take him to the Colours, he heard, and answered the call of King and Country, and he has died like thousands of other gallant and loyal hearts for his country’s honour. He died at the post of duty, and though he is buried in a foreign land his name will ever be held in honour by his fellow townsmen, who sincerely mourn his death. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Leach, who have another son at the front and a third in training. All honour to them, and may the sacrifice they have made never be forgotten.

03 November 1916

HAWES – IMPRESSIVE MEMORIAL SERVICE

A very impressive memorial service for the soldiers from the parish, and those closely connected with the parish, who have fallen in the War, was held in St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. From the Church tower the flag of St. George was flying half-mast, and the solemn tolling of the Church bell, announcing the hour of service, deepened the solemnity of the occasion. There was a large congregation, among whom were the relatives of many who have fallen. The service was conducted by the vicar (Rev. S. D. Crawford), and the hymns were 'Lead, Kindly Light’, ‘On the Resurrection Morning’, and ‘For all the Saints’. The soldiers whose memories were honoured were: Frederick Cockett, Albert Leach, Thomas Walton, J. W. Fryer, Reginald Milburn, James Banks, J. Chaytor Metcalfe, George Bargh, and James H. Milner

The Vicar took for his text the words, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’. He said “As we think of those who have laid down their lives for their country in this War, two thoughts force themselves upon us – the greatness they have achieved, and the atonement they have wrought. Lads who have never trained for war have, in a few months, become the equals of the most magnificently trained army in the world, and we have lived to see a greatness in our splendid boys of which we have but little conception. These lads had acquired a deathless fame; a greatness which would survive as long the British Empire lasts. And some share of this greatness belongs to those for whose lives and deaths we thank God today, and we believe that as they gave their lives without a murmur, so our God will hear the prayers we offer that their souls may rest in peace, and light eternal shine upon them. When we recall the horrors that Belgium, France and Serbia have suffered, and realise that but for those same brave lads we might be suffering the same, we cannot honour them too much, we cannot be too grateful for their devotion and self-sacrifice. To those who mourn their loss, this comfort must come: that their loved ones have passed into the company of heroes who equated not their lives too dear, but at the call of duty sacrificed all for the sake of their country, the good of mankind, and the cause of true liberty. But their death has done more than prove their greatness; it has been an act of atonement, atonement for their country and atonement for themselves.”

There was a time in the history of most nations when it had to be brought back to its allegiance to God by some sharp punishment. We went into this war with clean hands, but nevertheless it was proving a means of national purging. While we as a whole suffered in various ways, the sacrificial shedding of their blood had been the great work of our fallen heroes. “To that sacrifice those we remember today have shared and may we not confidently say that their deaths are a contribution to the cleansing of the nation?”

At the close of the sermon ‘The Last Post’ was sounded on the cornet by Mr. J. Blades, and after the Blessing the Dead March was played on the organ by Mr. F. Haverfield.

29 December 1916

HAWES – A Quiet Christmas

The Christmas of 1916 was the quietest experienced in living history, and many causes contributed to this end. The weather, which was cold, with alternate showers of snow and rain, did not make for cheerfulness and the day was spent for the most part either at home, or (in the case of the men folk), in the clubs. No parties of Christmas singers were abroad on Christmas Eve, or on Saturday night, and no band enlivened matters on Christmas Day. The usual services were held in St. Margaret’s Church, and these were fairly well attended, about 60 partaking of Holy Communion. It was Christmas under war conditions, and which have touched almost every home. Many well-known men have made the great sacrifice. On the Hawes roll of honour are recorded the following names of those fallen in battle:–2nd Lieut. G. Bargh, Pte. James Banks, Pte. Fred Cockett, 2nd Lieut. J.W. Fryer, Pte. John Fawcett, Gunner Albert Leach, Major J.C. Metcalfe, Pte. R. Milburn, Pte. S.Moore, Pte. L. Staveley, and Corporal Tom Walton.

13 July 1917

LEACH – In loving memory of our dear son, Private Albert Leach, R.F.A., Hawes, killed in action July 12th 1916.

“He nobly answered duty’s call.”