Tickhill and District Local History Society

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 1 page 221

Bond of Sacrifice page 223

Tickhill and District Local History Society

Tickhill and District Local History Society

Christopher Leather was born on the Friary, Tickhill on the 15th July 1882.

He was the 6th and youngest son of the late Frederick John Leather, [who died in 1890] of Middleton Hall, Belford, Northumberland, J.P., and his wife Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia, (The Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire), daughter of the Reverend Charles Walters, M.A. Oxon. Educated at Hazelwood, and Mr Batley's Preparatory School Limpsfield and privately.

He joined the 3rd Militia Battalion Durham Light Infantry in November 1899, and received a commission on the 23rd December 1899 in the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, (Militia), as a 2nd Lieutenant, where he served in the South African War. January 1900 through to May 1902, attached to the mounted infantry. Christopher served with Distinction. He was taken prisoner by the Boers, but released on account of being only 17 years of age.

For his services, in 1901 he was given a regular commission in the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and received the Queen's medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps.

Christopher then retired on 1904.

On the outbreak of war, he re-joined his regiment on the 20th August 1914, and was attached to the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Arriving to the Battalion on the 23rd September with Lieutenant D. Mitford and 162 other ranks at Corcelles, (4th reinforcements).

He was killed in a night attack next to his company commander in action near Neave Chapelle between the 26th and 27th October.

He was unmarried. He was described as "a good officer and friend". He was one of six brothers, all of whom served both in South Africa and in the European War. The third and fifth brothers were also killed in action. See Edward Leather and Ernest Leather, the second and fourth, Captain P. C. du Sautoy Leather and Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth J. Walters Leather, were severely wounded, and the eldest Major G.F.T. Leather, Northumberland Fusiliers, is now [1916] on active service. He was an expert motorist, a keen amateur sailor, and fisherman.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Captain P. C. du S. Leather, 4th Yorkshire Battalion, was a beaten finalist in the Northumberland Tennis Tournament in 1888, where it was played inside a Drill Hall. He was born in 1867. He had served as a Captain in the 1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He served in Ceylon, was married in 1891 to the daughter of the late Sir James Laing, Eatal Manor Northumberland.

David Thompson has submitted the following:-

Born on 15 July 1882, at The Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire, the sixth and youngest son of the late Frederick John Leather, JP, of Middleton Hall, Belford and his wife, Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia (née Walters, daughter of the Rev. Charles Walters, MA, Oxon).

Educated, first, at Mr. Bailey's Preparatory School at Limpsfield, afterwards privately.

Christopher was an expert motorist, a keen amateur sailor, and a fisherman. He was unmarried.

In November 1899, commissioned as Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Served in South Africa from January 1900 to May 1902, where he served with distinction in the Mounted Infantry.

In 1901 he received a regular commission in the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, with which he remained until the conclusion of the campaign, receiving the Queen's medal with three clasps, and the King's medal with two clasps.

Retired from the Army in 1904 but re-joined his old regiment on 20 August 1914. Went to France as a Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion and was later attached to the 1st Battalion.

Killed in action near Neuve Chapelle. Date of death varies as between 25-27 October 1914.

His Commanding Officer wrote of him after he was killed: 'A good officer and a cheery friend'

One of three sons lost: See, also, Capt Edward Wilberforce Leather (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own [Yorkshire Regiment], 3rd [Reserve] Battalion; Died 18 April 1915) and Major Ernest Arthur Leather (Northumberland Fusiliers, 15th [Reserve] Battalion attached to 27th[Service] Battalion [4th Tyneside Irish]; Died 10 February 1916).

All six sons served during the Boer War and the First World War. The second and fourth, Captain P. C. du Sautoy Leather and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth J. Walters Leather, were severely wounded, and the eldest, Major G. F. T. Leather, served with the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Christopher Leather was remembered by the Pages of the Sea project for a unique event to mark 100 years since Armistice and the end of the first world war.across the UK and Ireland communities gathered on 32 beaches to say a collective thank you and goodbye to the millions who left their shores, many never to return.

Christopher Leather is remembered at Alnwick in A11.43 page 7, in Belford on B16.01 and in Ingram on I3.02, I3.04 and I3.05 and in Powburn on P39.01

He is also remembered at Tickhill on the Tickhill and District Local History Society website

The Tickhill and District Local History Society
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Leather