Menin Gate
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Leonard Boycott was born in Dinas, St Martins, Shropshire June 8th 1887, son of coal miner James Boycott and Mary Jones. he was the fourth son and one of eight, five boys and three girls. At some point in the next twenty years they migrated north. in 1911 his parents were living at 50 West Chilton Terrace, Ferry Hill whilst Leonard was living at Rose Cottage, Rowlands Gill with his wife Elizabeth Harriet (nee Dunbar) whom he married in June 1909 in the district of Sedgefield, employed as a coal miner (hewer.) Leonard before the outbreak of war was working at Windlestone at Pease and Partners colliery. There is a possibility a son Leonard was born 1917 died 1918 in Sedgefield.
December 5th 1915 he enlisted in the Yorkshire Regiment 8th Battalion, attached to the 23rd Division and was posted to France. June 1917 his battalion was involved in the Battle of Messines to capture the German defences on the ridge through Messines and to deprive the Germans of the high ground around Ypres. The battle began with the detonation of a series of mines beneath the German line, which created 19 large craters and devastated the enemy defences. The explosions could be heard in London and as far away as Dublin. This was followed by a barrage covering the British troops as they advanced to the ridge with the support of tanks, cavalry and aircraft. British attacks from the 8th-14th June advanced the British front beyond the former of the Germans. It was during this offensive that Private 23366 Leonard Boycott M.M. was killed in action, June 8th 1917, he was 30 years old.
Leonard during his service was awarded the Military Medal, a decoration for personnel, awarded for gallantry and devotion in the field under heavy fire. Other awards included the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His name is inscribed on the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, panel 33, one of 54,896 Commonwealth soldiers commemorated there who died in the Salient and whose bodies have never been identified or found.
The sum of £8. 0s. 0d. back pay was paid to his wife Elizabeth Harriet Boycott of 57, South View, Windlestone, County Durham.
In God’s Safe Keeping. Rest in Peace.
With thanks to Cathy, Leonard’s great-niece for supplying his date of birth, his mother’s maiden name and the photo of his inscription on the Menin Gate.
Leonard Boycott is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04, C107.09, C107.12 and C107.14 (Darlington D40.039)
