On the Tyne Cot Memorial,  Belgium, is the name of 34668 Corporal Thomas Cookson Leech, serving with the 27th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who died 15/10/1917.

He was the son of Joseph Leech; and the husband of Mary Elizabeth Leech, of 74, Milburn Road, Ashington, Northumberland.

Margaret Allison reports that in 1911 his address was 30 Severn Street, Ashington.

On February 3rd 1912 he married Mary Elizabeth Lazenby at St. Aidan’s Church Ashington.

Pauline Priano  has submitted the following:-

Thomas Cookson Leech was one of 8 children all of whom survived to adulthood.

His father, coal hewer Joseph Gordon Leech was born at Spennymoor, County Durham March 20th 1858. He was married October 9th 1880 to Anne Cookson who was the youngest daughter of Thomas Cookson and Jane Reay. Anne was born in 1863 in the village of Leadgate, County Durham. 

Newly married the couple moved into her widowed father and brothers’ home in Medomsley where their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1881 registered as surname Leach. Their son Isaac was born in 1883 registered with the surname Leech as was Jane Isabell who was born December 1st 1884, Joseph Gordon in 1886, Thomas Cookson, March 12th 1889 and Ephthlea in 1890. Thomas Cookson (65) and his son in law Joseph were the only breadwinners employed as coal miners.

Their family was complete with the birth of Annie Mary, July 3rd 1892 and John William Cookson Leech, July 3rd 1895. Over the next   6 years the Leech family moved into a home of their own. In 1901 they occupied 81, Maple Street, Hirst, Ashington. Joseph and his elder sons Isaac (17) and Joseph (15) were working at the colliery, Thomas (13), his sisters and the younger children remained at home and not listed as scholars.

Thomas Cookson Leech (22) was the eldest still living at home in 1911. The family had moved into 3 rooms at 30, Severn Street, Hirst, Ashington where Joseph Gordon Leech was listed as head of the household in the 1911 census although his father in law Thomas Cookson (85) was living with them. Joseph Gordon (53) and Thomas were both employed at the colliery below ground, Annie Mary was a dressmaker for her own account working from home, John William (15) was a student teacher at school. 

As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a of a possibility of war with Germany but day to day life continued. Thomas Cookson Leech was married at St. Aidan’s Catholic Church, Ashington, January 3rd 1912 to Mary Elizabeth Lazenby who was the daughter of colliery joiner Andrew William Lazenby and Elizabeth Kavanaugh. The Lazenby family originated from Morpeth in Northumberland where Mary Elizabeth was born, May 6th 1894. 

Thomas and Mary’s son Olla P. William Gordon Lazenby was born in Morpeth, Northumberland August 10th 1912.

Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany on August 4th 1914. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country.

Thomas Cookson Leech enlisted in Alnwick, Northumberland in 1915 as Thomas Leech where he was assigned to the newly formed Pals Battalion the 27th (4th Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers raised at Newcastle upon Tyne in January 1915 by the Lord Mayor and City. 

After initial training near home the battalion joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June 1915 then moved to Salisbury Plain in late August for final training. Corporal Thomas Leech crossed to France with his regiment January 1916 and the Division concentrated neat La Crosse east of St. Omer where their training intensified in preparation for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme. Programmed to begin June 29th 1916 the opening battle at Albert was postponed by bad weather until July 1st 1916.

After two huge detonations in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines at 7.30 aim, the whistles blew and the men went over the top. The 27th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was in action at the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th, including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts, Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th, Pozieres Ridge, July 23rd-September 3rd and Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd.

In 1917 his regiment participated during the Arras Offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917, at the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe and at Arleux before moving north to the battlefields of the Yores salient in Belgium where they participated during the 3rd Battle of Ypres which raged from July 31st-November 10th 1917.

Corporal Thomas Leech was killed in action October 15th 1917, news of his demise was reported November 2nd 1917 but his body was not recovered for a Christian burial. His sacrifice is recorded as one of almost 35,000 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms part of the boundary wall of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres in Belgium commemorating those who fell as of August 16th 1917 who have no known grave. He was 29 years of age.

His widow Mary Elizabeth received all monies due to her late husband from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal ent to her at 74, Milburn Street, the home of her parents. April 18th 1918 she was awarded a pension for herself and their son of 20 shillings to be received weekly as of May 6th 1918 destined to diminish August 10th 1928 once her son turned 16 years of age.

Mary Elizabeth not only lost her husband during WW1 but also two of her brothers. Private Ben Frederick Lazenby died in 1917 and almost one year to the day Gunner James William Lazenby in 1918.

In 1921 Mary Elizabeth and her son were still living at 74, Milburn Road, Ashington, with her parents and 3 of her brothers. Joiner Andrew William Lazenby (60) was employed by the Ashington Coal Company as were his sons Charles Stanley (31) and Robert Stanley (19) working above ground as colliery labourers, Thomas Norman (17) was serving his apprenticeship with the company as a brick layer. They had taken into their home as a boarder 60 year old coal hewer Mr. A. Cochrane.

Andrew William Lazenby died in 1926 registered in Morpeth, Northumberland. His widow Elizabeth Lazenby in 1939 was semi-incapacitated and living at 17, Fosse Terrace, Gateshead, historically in County Durham cared for by her daughter Mary Elizabeth who was employed as a golf club stewardess.

Thomas Cookson Leech’s father Joseph Gordon Leech died July 8th 1921 at his home address of 128, Sycamore Street, Ashington having been incapacitated by a stroke 1 month 10 days earlier. Present at the time of his death was his son John William Cookson Leech. His widow Anne Leech nee Cookson died Sunday July 7th 1940 and was buried within Ashington Churchyard in a private ceremony Wednesday July 10th 1940.

Mary Elizabeth’s mother Elizabeth Lazenby nee Kavanaugh died in Gateshead, historically in County Durham, March 20th 1941.

Mary Elizabeth Leech nee Lazenby did not remarry, she died in Northumberland in 1960 aged 66 years.

Olla P. William Leech served with the Royal Naval Reserve during WW2, January 7th 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Temporary Warrant Engineer. He was married to Margaret S. Dobbie in Lothingland, Suffolk in 1945. Post-war he and his wife in 1948 were living at 40, Sunningdale Avenue, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Morpeth Herald 16/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
LEECH.- Killed in action, Oct. 17th, 1917, Corpl. Thomas Leech (Tot), dearly beloved husband of M.E. Leech, second daughter of W. and E. Lazenby, late of Morpeth.- (Deeply mourned by his loving wife and child, and by all who knew him). R.I.P.

Thomas Cookson Leech is remembered at Ashington on A17.01 (A17.27), A17.28, A17.40 and A17.43.