Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, Service no. 307341
Story
Born on the 24th December 1892, Leonard was the son of Eli Wilson and Alice Mollitt Collinson. His mother passed away giving birth to her sixth child when Leonard was only two, and his father re-married Alice Knowles, and they went on to have a further nine children. The family lived at Cliff Dene, Leeds Road (photo below):
On 6th November 1909, Leonard, his cousin John Knowles, Rowland Jeffs (who later married John Knowles’ sister Cyrilla May Knowles), and James Robshaw, were caught by the local policeman letting off fireworks in Kippax High Street. Leonard was fined 1s and costs at Leeds Magistrates Court. At the time the four lads were all pony drivers at the colliery, but before the war, Leonard joined his father working for the Pearl Insurance Company.
Leonard started out with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as a Private, and then married Sylvia Wright in Kippax on 9th May 1916, before transferring to the West Riding regiment. They lived at 18 West View, Robinson Lane. His brother, John William Wilson, and Sylvia’s brother Harry Wright both also listed. Leonard’s D.C.M. award ceremony at the Kippax Wesleyan School was widely reported, and he was promoted to Corporal shortly after:
Kippax Hero Honoured. The Gallantry of Sergt. L. Wilson (29th September 1918)
Britain can fearlessly face the future while such men as Sergt. L. Wilson, of Kippax, are reared in our villages. Kippax is rightly proud of this hero, who has been awarded both the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He is the eighth Kippax man to win the former. The committee of the Kippax and Ledston Luck Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Comforts and Memorial Fund undertakes to present each local man honoured with a gold watch, and at a concert last night week, Sergt. Wilson, who is of the West Riding Regiment, was the recipient of a watch and also the D.C.M.
County Councillor I.J. Dewhirst, J.P., who presided, presented the D.C.M. to the gallant soldier. He said Sergt. Wilson was told with his company to hold a certain point of our line, which they were able to do. When the company got back they found that a wounded man had been left behind. Sergt. Wilson volunteered and was successful in bringing him in (cheers).
Mr. Douglas Beaufort, the popular London entertainer, kept the large audience interested for an hour and a half, with sleight of hand tricks, musical sketches, humorous impersonations, funny stories, and ventriloquism.
During an interval, Mr. Dewhirst presented the gold watch to Sergt. Wilson, on behalf of the village fund, and the gift was suitably acknowledged. Cr. J.A. Rhodes, J.P., also spoke in eulogistic terms of the sergeant’s bravery.
The full citation for his D.C.M. reads: “307341 Cpl. L. Wilson, W. Rid. R. (Leeds) (LG 1 May 1918). For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in charge of a wiring party when the enemy attempted a raid. He opened fire on them and, finding his flank threatened, skilfully withdrew towards the front line, thus bringing the enemy under enfilade fire from Lewis guns. Finding that one of his party who had been wounded was missing, he went out again and brought him in. He showed splendid courage and initiative.”
After the War, Leonard and Sylvia had a daughter Sadie in 1919. They moved to Blackpool, where in 1939, they were living at 117 Powell Avenue, Blackpool. Leonard was a Clerk, and along with Sylvia both went on to help the War effort in the Second World War, working as ARP Wardens. Leonard passed away in Blackpool in 1974, aged 82, whilst Sylvia passed away in 1980.
Below: A working party of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) returning, crossing the canal by a footbridge, between Carvin and Robecq, 18 June 1918. Imperial War Museum image Q6711
Kippax Roll of Honour 