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George LEATT

Main CPGW Record

Surname: LEATT

Forename(s): George

Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire

Service No: 7573

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: South African Infantry, 9th Regiment (Sportsmen)

Battalion / Unit: 'A' Coy

Division: division unknown

Age: 33

Date of Death: 1916-04-25

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: 5. G. 19.

CWGC Cemetery: DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

George Leatt was the son of George Gore and Sarah Ellen Leatt, née Fagan and the brother of L/Corporal Tom Leatt (17932) (q.v.) and Private James Leatt (12/2011) (q.v.). Their father was born at Clyst St George, Devon and mother at Skipton, Yorkshire. George, Tom and James were cousins of Private Charles Stell (8179) (q.v.).

1891 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 23, Dawson Street - George Leatt, aged 8 years, born Skipton, son of George and Sarah Leatt.

George was married to Ethel –.

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:

LEATT, George, 25th April, 1916. [Additional]

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Private George LEATT

Private George LEATT

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: South African Infantry, 9th Regiment (Sportsmen)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: South African Infantry, 9th Regiment (Sportsmen)

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

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: No entry in SDGW - South African Forces.

Forename(s):

Born:

Residence:

Enlisted:

Number:

Rank:

Regiment:

Battalion:

Decorations:

Died Date:

Died How:

Theatre of War:

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: LEATT

Forename(s): G

Country of Service: South African

Service Number: 7573

Rank: Private

Regiment: 9th Regt. South African Infantry

Unit:

Age:

Awards:

Died Date: 25/04/1916

Additional Information:

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‘Bradford Weekly Telegraph’ (5 May 1916)

PATRIOTIC SKIPTON FAMILY

FIVE SONS SERVING KING AND COUNTRY

One Has Paid Full Penalty

Much sympathy is felt in Skipton for Mr. and Mrs. George Leatt, of Pendle Street, Skipton, the heads of a patriotic family who have suffered bereavement by the death of a son from wounds received in action.

The late soldier was the youngest of five sons serving their country, three in the Army, one in the Navy, and one at home in a munitions foundry. He was Private Tom Leatt, a single man, aged 23, and he was attached to the Royal Berkshires. Prior to enlistment he was an officer in the Burnley Police Force. He had been at the Front seven months.

The other sons on active service are: Private George Leatt, the eldest, and a married man, who joined the Sportsmen’s Battalion in South Africa. He is now serving in German East Africa. He also served in the Boer War.

Private Jame[s] Leatt, the next son, was a single young man, aged 31. He joined the New Zealand Forces at the beginning of last year, and he served in the Dardanelles. After evacuation he went to Egypt, and from there he was sent to the Western Front, where he was hoping to see his brother.

The third son is Harry Leatt, a stoker in the Royal Navy, and he is serving on H.M.S. Exmouth. He enlisted last May.

In addition Mr. and Mrs Leatt have had seven nephews with the Colours, one of them, Private Charlie Stell, of Skipton, who went down in the Royal Edward with other troops who were being transported to the Dardanelles.

Mr. Leatt, the head of the family, is a well-known railwayman, having been in the service of the Midland Railway many years.

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1929

LEATT Sarah Ellen of 43 Pendle-street Skipton Yorkshire widow died 27 April 1929 Probate London 10 July to Florrie Leatt spinster. Effects £139 14s. 5d.

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Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery

Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery

CWGC Headstone

Courtesy of Ralph McLean of South Africa War Graves Project: southafricawargraves.org

Service Card

Service Card

Courtesy of Ralph McLean of South Africa War Graves Project: southafricawargraves.org

Service Card

Service Card

Courtesy of Ralph McLean of South Africa War Graves Project: southafricawargraves.org

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Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

09 June 1916

LEATT – April 28th (of fever), at Germiston Hospital, German East Africa, George Leatt of Johannesburg, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Leatt, Pendle Street, Skipton, aged 33 years.

09 June 1916

SKIPTON SOLDIER DIES IN SOUTH AFRICA – TWO SONS DEAD OUT OF FOUR

Mr. and Mrs. George Leatt, of Pendle Street, Skipton, who just over a month ago received the sad news that their son Tom had been killed while serving with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in France, have suffered a second bereavement by the death of their eldest boy George, who they were informed early this week has died of fever on active service with the South African Force in German East Africa.

The deceased soldier, who was 33 years of age, and married, formerly worked for the Skipton Co-operative Society, but had been in South Africa for the past twelve years. He was at one time in General Baden Powell’s Mounted Police and saw active service in the South African War. On the outbreak of the present war he was one of thousands in the Colony who answered the call and had been serving ever since. It is a sad co-incidence that his death should have taken place shortly before his brother was killed in France.

Mr. and Mrs. Leatt have two sons still with the Colours, and one of them, who has been through the Anzac Campaign with the Australian Contingent, arrived home unexpectedly this week. The other is a stoker on His Majesty’s ship Exmouth, and much anxiety was felt as to his fate when news came through of the big naval battle. Fortunately he is still safe. The bereaved family have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their trouble.

In a communication from the deceased soldier’s wife, the parents were informed that death took place in Germiston Hospital on April 28th from water fever. He was in the 9th (Sportsmen’s) Battalion of the South African Contingent. In addition to the four sons mentioned above, Mr. and Mrs. Leatt had seven nephews also serving at the outbreak of war.

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09 June 1916

SKIPTON SOLDIER’S DEATH IN JOHANNESBURG

News has been received by Mr. and Mrs. George Leat, of Pendle Street, Skipton, that their eldest son, Pte. George Leat, of the 9th Sportsman’s Regiment, died on April 28th in the Germiston Hospital, Johannesburg, from black water fever. The news was conveyed in a letter sent to Pte. Leat’s wife. The deceased, who was 33 years of age, went out to Johannesburg about 12 years ago to join Baden Powell’s Mounted Police, and he had nearly served his three years there. He was formerly employed at the Skipton Co-operative Stores. Mr. and Mrs. Leat only a short time ago lost another of their sons, Lance-Corpl. Thos. Leat, who was attached to the Berkshire Regiment. It will be remembered that the parents received a telegram from the Military Authorities intimating that Lance-Corporal Leat was in hospital in France, suffering from a gunshot wound in the chest, and stating that they could see him if they wished to make the journey. About half an hour afterwards a second telegram was received informing them that their son had succumbed to his wounds. Pte. Leat was one of four brothers serving. Of the two remaining sons, one is serving with the Anzacs, who has returned home from the trenches in France since the news of his brother’s death in Johannesburg had been received, while the other brother is engaged as a stoker on His Majesty’s ship Exmouth.

01 June 1917

LEATT – May 29th, at 43, Pendle Street, Skipton, George Leatt, aged 68.

[Father of Pte. George Leatt, Pte. James Leatt and L/Cpl. Tom Leatt.]

19 October 1917

SKIPTON CASUALTIES

THREE BROTHERS NOW KILLED

Information has been received that Pte. James Leatt of the New Zealand Forces, son of Mrs. Leatt, of Pendle Street, Skipton, was killed in action on October 4th. In a letter to the deceased soldier’s mother, Captain Gordon Coates, of the Auckland Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, states:– “It is with great regret that I write to console with you in the loss of your brave son. He was killed during our advance on the 4th inst., and it was a great pity that he was not spared to enjoy the fruits of the success to which he so ably contributed. It is a time of self-sacrifice, and right nobly your son respond to the call. He died as you could wish him to die, like a soldier and a man, and you have reason to be proud of him. I just wish to extend to you the sympathy of your son’s comrades in the company in your time of sorrow. Mrs. Leatt has also received a letter which is signed by Pte. E.W. Johnstone and Pte. H. Waldron, and which states:– “Jim was a pal of mine. We went into the trenches on the night of October the 2nd, and went over the top at 6 o’clock on the Monday morning of the 4th. This was where your son died for his county, and I must say that he suffered no pain. Shortly after we reached our objective, and I came back to find him but evidently another enemy shell must have struck him. Jim was well-known throughout the battalion as a good soldier, and his gap will be felt by all. It is very hard for us to have to sit down to write of our men who have gone before.” Originally Mrs. Leatt had three sons in the army, one in the navy, and one on munitions. The three who were in the army are now dead. Pte. George Leatt, the eldest son and a married man, died in German East Africa, and Pte. Tom Leatt died from wounds received in action. The son serving in the navy is Pte. Harry Leatt. Pte. James Leatt, who was 33 years of age, went out to Canada and afterwards to New Zealand to join another brother. He joined up just before Christmas, 1914, and went to the Dardanelles the June following, then to Egypt, and afterwards to France. He was wounded on the Somme. As a boy he was apprenticed to Mr. Swire, newsagent, Swadford Street, Skipton.

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