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Edwin LEEPER

Main CPGW Record

Surname: LEEPER

Forename(s): Edwin

Place of Birth: Nelson, Lancashire

Service No: 333430

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Highland Light Infantry

Battalion / Unit: 1/9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion

Division: 33rd Division

Age: 29

Date of Death: 1918-04-13

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: II. C. 2.

CWGC Cemetery: LOCRE HOSPICE CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Edwin Leeper was the son of George and Martha Leeper, née Lancaster. George was born at Luton, Bedfordshire and Martha at Barnoldswick, Yorkshire.

1891 Nelson, Lancashire Census: 46, Lomeshawe Road - Edmund [sic] Leeper, aged 2 years, born Nelson, son of George and Martha Leeper.

1901 Nelson, Lancashire Census: 213, Manchester Road - Edwin Leeper, aged 12 years, born Nelson, son of George and Martha Leeper.

1911 Nelson, Lancashire Census: 17, Market Square - Edwin Leeper, aged 22 years, born Nelson, son of George and Martha Leeper.

Edwin was married to Ada Maskew in 1913.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Edwin Leeper, 333430, H.L.I.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Edwin Leeper, 333430, 9th High.L.I.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Edwin Leeper, 333430, 9th Bn H.L.I. Date and Place of Death: 13.4.18. Wounds No.101 Fld. Amb. France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow sole legatee - Ada. £25 3s. 6d.

Edwin is commemorated in the Rolls of Honour at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh.

A short biography of Edwin is included in: ‘Barnoldswick – A small Town’s part in conflicts 1800 to 2014’ by Peter Ian Thompson (2014).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

LEEPER, Edwin, aged 29 years, H.L.I., Monkroyd, [Barnoldswick], killed in action April 13, 1918.

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Private Edwin LEEPER

Private Edwin LEEPER

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Highland Light Infantry

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Highland Light Infantry

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 33rd Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 33rd Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: LEEPER

Forename(s): Edwin

Born: Nelson, Lancs

Residence: Barnoldswick, Yorks

Enlisted: Skipton, Yorks

Number: 333430

Rank: Private

Regiment: Highland Light Infantry

Battalion: 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion (Territorial)

Decorations:

Died Date: 13/04/18

Died How: Died of wounds

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: LEEPER

Forename(s): Edwin

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 333430

Rank: Private

Regiment: Highland Light Infantry

Unit: 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn.

Age: 29

Awards:

Died Date: 13/04/1918

Additional Information: Son of George and Martha Leeper; husband of Ada Leeper, of 3 Aspen Lane, Stanhill, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE)

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View Additional Image(s)

Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

The family of George and Martha Leeper, née Lancaster

The family of George and Martha Leeper, née Lancaster

George and Martha with their children - Edwin is sitting in front of his mother

Kindly supplied by Angus Brennand, Barnoldswick

'Craven Herald' (11 April 1919)

'Craven Herald' (11 April 1919)

George and Martha Leeper, née Lancaster, the parents of Private Edwin Leeper

George Leeper, Edwin Leeper’s father, outside his shop at 23, Skipton Road, Barnoldswick

George Leeper, Edwin Leeper’s father, outside his shop at 23, Skipton Road, Barnoldswick

Kindly supplied by Angus Brennand, Barnoldswick

Ghyll Undenominational Burial Ground, Barnoldswick

Ghyll Undenominational Burial Ground, Barnoldswick

Family gravestone

Ghyll Undenominational Burial Ground, Barnoldswick

Ghyll Undenominational Burial Ground, Barnoldswick

Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

10 May 1918

Private E. Leeper, Barnoldswick

Private Edwin Leeper, H.L.I. (signaller), son of Mr. and Mrs. George Leeper, Monkroyd, Barnoldswick, was killed in action on April 13th. He was 29 years of age, and leaves a wife and two children living at 17 Bairstow Street. Prior to joining up he assisted his father in the drapery business in Skipton Road, and was connected with the Baptist Church and Sunday School. He went out to France in December last. Two of his brothers are with the Army in Salonika and another is in training in England.

11 April 1919

BARNOLDSWICK

MARRIED FIFTY YEARS

On Saturday Mr. and Mrs. George Leeper, of ‘Monkroyd,’ Barnoldswick, celebrated their golden wedding. Coming to Barnoldswick from Luton (Beds.) early in the ‘sixties,’ Mr. Leeper made the acquaintance of Miss Martha Lancaster, and on April 5th, 1869, the marriage was solemnized at the Parish Church of St. Mary-le-Gill. Mr. and Mrs. Leeper have been the proud parents of ten children – eight sons and two daughters – of whom seven sons and one daughter still survive. One son (Edwin), of the Highland Light Infantry, gave his life for his country in France April 13th, 1918, and three others have served during the war, in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, South Wales Borderers and Loyal North Lancashire Regiments respectively. Of the surviving children, three sons (George, Frank and Martin) reside at Nelson; two (James and Rennie) at Barnoldswick; and two have made their home in the U.S.A. – Fred being engaged in evangelical work in the City of St. Louis, and Arthur in business at Malden (Mass.). The remaining member of the family is Mrs. Rennie Fletcher, of Fairhaven, Lytham. There are 16 grandchildren. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leeper are honoured members of Bethesda Baptist Church, with which they have been associated since 1869. Mr. Leeper holds the proud record of having been a Sunday School worker and occasional lay preacher for over 50 years, and to-day fills the office of trustee and deacon, assistant superintendent of the Sunday School and teacher of the senior male Bible class. The couple have been the recipients of numerous congratulations, but owing to the recent illness of Mrs. Leeper the traditional celebrations associated with so auspicious an event have of necessity been postponed.

18 April 1919

LEEPER – In fond remembrance of our dear brother, Signaller Edwin Leeper, of the 2/5th H.L.I., who died of wounds received in action April 13th, 1918.

“His life was a ray of sunshine.”

From Brother and Sister, 28 Parker Street, Barnoldswick.

LEEPER – In loving memory of our dear son, Signaller Edwin Leeper, who gave his life for us in France on April 13th, 1918.

We should like to have raised his dying head
And heard his last farewell;
The grief would not have been so hard
For those he loved so well.

“Gone, but not lost.”

From Father and Mother, Brothers and Sister.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

10 May 1918

LEEPER – Killed in action April 13th, Pte. Edwin Leeper, of the H.L.I., son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Leeper, of Monkroyd, Barnoldswick, aged 29.

10 May 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Pte. E. Leeper Killed

Pte. Edwin Leeper, H.L.I. (signaller), son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Leeper, Monkroyd, Barnoldswick, was killed in action of April 13th. He was 29 years of age, and leaves a wife and two children living at 17, Bairstow Street. Prior to joining up he assisted his father in the drapery business in Skipton Road, and was connected with Bethesda Baptist Church and Sunday School. He went out to France in December last. Two of his brothers are serving with the army in Salonika, and another in training in England.

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