Auburn, Leonard John

Leonard was the eldest son of John and Annie (nee Haylock) Auburn, born at Stotfold, Bedfordshire on 12 April 1897.  The family moved to Ashwell, Hertfordshire in 1910 where Leonard was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School.

 Leonard enlisted at Hertford on 18 February 1914.  He embarked for to the Western European Front, France, on 19 May 1915 with the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, Regimental Number 6935. In June 1916 he suffered shell shock and was returned to England for rest and recuperation.  On 12 March 1917 he was re-embarked to France. He suffered gas poisoning in June 1917 and was returned to England.  In September 1918 Leonard was posted to the Labour Corps, Agricultural Coy, Regimental Number 52740, and in February 1919 was attached to the No.1 Disposal Unit at Crystal Palace. He survived the War.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

He was still at school in 1911 and there is no evidence of employment prior to enlisting.

The 1939 census shows him living in Willesden, Middlesex, single and a navvy or labourer.

Leonard died on 4 March 1960 at Willesden.   There is no evidence of marriage or children as his will leaves all his assets to his brother George.

Leonard’s brother Frank also survived the war having served with the Manchester Regiment in the Western European Theatre of War, Italy and Egypt.

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