Leonard Whettall, Age 22

Lance Corporal, 12075, 7th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

Leonard’s inclusion on the Dawley rest room memorial was still a bit of an enigma, until I was contacted by a local historian, Neil Evans, apparently Leonard was working at the time of his enlistment (Sept 1914) as a miner at the Kemberton colliery. A number of other Dawley men also worked there, so you would imagine that Leonard was living in the Dawley area at the time and hence his inclusion on the Rest room memorial.

Further research has shown that Leonard was born in Pulverpatch, Shropshire and is in fact remembered on the Pontsbury war memorial alongside his brother Pte Wallace Whettall, 22239, Loyal North Lancashire regiment, who was also killed in action on the 25th September 1915, the first day of the battle of Loo’s. Wallace is remembered on the Loo’s memorial to the missing at Dud Corner Cemetery. Both the brothers were the sons of Thomas & Emma Whettall of Radbeth Cottage, Pontsford, Shropshire.

At 5.20 am on the 27th September 1918 the 8th Brigade attacked German positions in what was to become known as the Battle of the Canal du Nord, the KSLI where on the right of the attack with the Royal Scots on the left. Despite severe opposition ‘A’ company gained their objective losing their commander and a Platoon officer and 34 men, whilst the centre company captured a German battalion commander plus 15 men, in addition to this the battalion as a whole managed to capture 52 machine guns, 4 Trench mortars, 3 anti-tank rifles and 350 prisoners.

Leonard was killed during this action on the 27t September and lies buried at Lowrie Cemetery in grave K.2l

Inscription added to head stone by: Mr. T. Whettall, Radleth, Cottage, Pontesford, Salop.

In Jesu’s Keeping Now Our Loved One We Leave Sleeping

Lowrie Cemetery, Havrincourt.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Lowrie Cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal	1914-15 Star Medal