Alexandra Princess of Wales’ Own Yorkshire Regiment, Green Howards
Born: 21st January 1921.
Story
Leslie was the son of Harold Hall (1901-1977) and Sarah Ann Howson (1899-1973), who had married in Garforth on 30th October 1920. Leslie’s brother Denis also served in the Second World War, and the family lived on Sandgate Terrace. In 1937, aged 16, Leslie joined the York & Lancashire Regiment, before transferring to the Green Howards (who are pictured below on an exercise among the sand dunes at Sandbanks, near Poole in Dorset, 31 July 1940)
Leslie served in Crete, Greece, Syria and Libya, and also fought alongside John Smart, also from Kippax, who was killed on 25th May 1941. On 10th July 1942, Leslie was reported missing in Libya along with another soldier from Kippax, Fred Bellerby. He was part of the 4th and 5th Territorial Army Battalions, serving with the 150th Infantry Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, which was captured during the Battle of Gazala (picture below: British 25-pounder field guns in action on 2nd June 1942 during the Battle of Gazala in Libya.)
This Battle was a terrible defeat for the Allies, as Axis Forces, led by Erwin Rommel, captured 32,000 British troops, and inflicted 18,000 casualties. On 18th September 1942, it was announced that Leslie and another soldier from Kippax, Gunner Harold Johnson, were now known to have been captured by the Italians. Leslie wrote home to say he was “still in one piece and in the best of health.” On 19th March 1943, it was announced that Leslie and Fred Bellerby had met up in their Italian Prisoner of War Camp, and as former school mates, they were exchanging reminiscences. However, on 12th November 1943, it was reported that Leslie had sent a card home explaining that he had been sent to Prisoner of War camp in Germany. He had received a parcel containing clothing, but had to leave everything behind. Fortunately, the last War-time report came on 25th May 1945, announcing that he had returned to Kippax, along with fellow prisoners of War: Dennis Burton, Charles Eric Backhouse and George Wilkinson.
Leslie served 10 years in the Army, and had been a prisoner for 3 of those years. After the War, he married Kathleen Britten in 1946, and they lived at 19 Helena Street. Leslie passed away on 22nd April 1995.
Kippax Roll of Honour 