Worboys, Leslie John Montague

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Worboys, Leslie John Montague 

Military History:

Regiment:
Bedfordshire Regiment

Rank:                              
Private

Service Number:             
19861

Date of Enlisting:            
15.9.1914

Date of death:                 
3.1980

Cemetery/ Memorial:     
Not known

UK Cemetery/Memorial:
St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

Leslie enlisted with the Bedfordshire Regiment on 15th September 1914. After training at Shoreham he received orders to mobilise on 28th August 1916, reaching Boulogne early on 30th August 1916. In a letter home he referred to his battalion as the ‘Hungry 8th’. They fought in the Battle of Loos in September and in 1916 engaged in The Battle of the Somme (specifically at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.) where Leslie suffered a gunshot wound to his right foot. In June 1916 his leg was amputated below the knee and he was discharged no longer fit for military duty and so survived the War.

Leslie was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the Silver War Badge.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour and buried in Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

Family History:

Date of Birth:                2nd quarter 1896

Birth Place:                   Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Residence:                    Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Marriage:                      2nd quarter 1917

Leslie was the sixth son of James and Charlotte (nee Huffer) Worboys born in Ashwell in the 2nd quarter of 1896. Leslie was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Leslie married Clara Gertrude Billett in the 2nd quarter 1917. They had two children, Cadorna Leslie John born on 6th November 1917 and Pricilla R M born in the 2nd quarter 1922.

After recovering from his leg amputation he trained as a boot and shoe repairer and opened a shop next door to the Rose and Crown pub in Ashwell High Street.

Four of Leslie’s brothers served in the War and all survived.

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