Medal Index Card
Leonard Speight was born on the 3rd October 1891, the youngest son of three children, of Joseph Speight, [born 1860], Baker Confectioner, and his wife Priscilla, [born 1861], daughter of Noah and Martha Watkins, at Thornaby, near Middlesbrough. They were married at Stockton on the 14th August 1882. The three children were Joseph Henry [Furnace Labourer] who was born 26th June 1883 in Thornaby on Tees, South Stockton on Tees. He married Amy Rhodes. Amelia Speight was born about 1898 in Thornaby and Leonard Speight.
In 1901 the family were residing at Maynard Street at Skinningrove at a Bakers shop.
Joseph died prior to 1910.
In August 1910, Priscilla married George Wainford [born 1861 in Boston, Lincolnshire], and moved eventually to 40, Leicestershire Street, Thwate Gate, Hunslet, Leeds.
Leonard was educated at the County School in Middlesbrough.
In the 1911 census, Leonard was a boarder at 6 Woodbine Terrace, Horsforth, Leeds, Yorkshire, and was a Lampman Railway Servant.
Leonard originally enlisted in to the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 30th September 1909. He was subsequently transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers on the 30th June 1911. He served in India for two years, then was sent to France and Flanders on the 16th January 1915. He was wounded at Hill 60, in April 1915.
Leonard then was invalided home. In July 1916 he returned to the Front and was killed on the 7th December 1916 after being hit by a shell while resting in his dugout.
Captain J. N. Mayner later wrote:- He was with a corporal sitting in a little dug-out sitting in a reserve trench, when a shell hit the dug-out, going right through and bursting; a piece [of shrapnel] hit Sergeant Speight on the head, and he was killed instantly..... I may say that Sergeant Speight was regarded by me as a very capable N.C.O., and the best in the company, especially for instrumental purposes. It therefore came as a great shock when I went along the trench to hear he had been killed. The men looked to him as a helper and leader, and I have since heard them speaking of him in praiseworthy terms.
He was unmarried.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
He is remembered at Alnwick in A11.43 page 16
