Tickhill and District Local History Society

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 1 page 221

Tickhill and District Local History Society

Tickhill and District Local History Society

The Leather Family

Edward Wilberforce Leather was born at the Friary in Trickhill, Yorkshire, on the 23rd November 1879. He was the 5th son of the late Frederick John Leather, J.P., [who died in 1890] of Middleton Hall, Belford, Northumberland, and his wife Gertrude Elizabeth Sophia (The Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire), daughter of the Reverend Charles Walters. M.A. Oxon.

Edward was educated at the Hazelwood Preparatory School, then Wellington College.

He joined the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (5th West Yorkshire Militia) in 1899 aged 20. He was a 2nd Lieutenant on the 15th February 1900, further promoted on the 13th December 1900 to Lieutenant. He served in South Africa 1899-1902, and received the Queen's Medal with two clasps and the King's Medal with two Clasps. He retired in 1904.

On the outbreak of war he immediately re-joined the Yorkshire Regiment and was attached to the 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in France on the 11th November 1914. Promoted to Captain on the 1st February 1915.

At 18-00 hrs on April the 18th the battalion attacked Hill 60 from Larch Wood immediately coming under heavy artillery, machine gun and rifle fire. He was wounded twice during the attack and could have retired from the fight, but continued to do his duty and lead his platoon in the capture of Hill 60. "Furious combats took place in the craters which were filled with killed and wounded. Captain Edward Wilberforce Leather was killed in this action on April 18th 1915, age 35. His body was not found.

The The Berwick Advertiser Friday 30th April 1915 carried a report:-"The Late Captain E.W. Leather

Captain. E. W. Leather, Yorkshire Regiment killed in action near Ypres, was the fifth surviving son of the late Mr Leather, of Middleton, and Mrs Leather, The Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire. He was well known on the Borders as one of six soldier brothers. Lieutenant Christopher Leather, Northumberland Fusiliers, another of the brothers, was killed early in the war. Four brothers and a brother-in-law- Col [Colonel] Scott, commanding the 1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers-are still serving.

The Berwickshire News and General Advertiser Tuesday, 13/07/1915, had a report on a Border Officer's Will.

Capt. Edward Wilberforce Leather, 3rd Yorkshire Regiment, attached 2nd K.O.Y.L.I., of the Friary, Tickhill, Yorkshire, formerly of Middleton, Northumberland, who was killed in action at Hill 60 on April 18th last, aged 35 years, left unsettled property of the gross value of £12,976 8s, with net personalty £12,924 19s 8d. The testator left £2.000 to each of his sisters, Elenor Laing, Millicent Staniland, and Rosamund Mary Leather, and subject to some specific bequests, the residue of his property equally between his nephews, Christopher Stainbank Staniland, Peter Kenneth Laing, and Kenneth Mark Leather, and his godson Archibald James Ramsey White, on obtaining majority. Capt. E. W. Leather was one of 2 sons of Mrs Leather who have been killed in action. Three brothers are still serving.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Source:- Yorkshire Regiment Officers who died in the First World War by the late Robert Coulson.

Edward Wilberforce 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.

Edward Wilberforce Leather is remembered in Belford on B16.01

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

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