Leslie Reginald Wightman

Story:
Leslie Reginald Wightman was born 0n 3rd August, 1890 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 5th October, 1890. He was the son of James John Wightman, a commercial traveller, and Agnes Emma Wightman (nee Johnson) - Agnes was from Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a clerk salesman and living at 52 Derby Road, North End, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Leslie appeared before a Military Tribunal claiming exemption from Military Service but this was refused in February, 1916. On 25th April, 1916 he married Winifred Mary Cripps by licence at St. Jude's Church, Portsea, Portsmouth. He is described in the Register as a "Commercial Traveller, now Sapper, R.E." Up until this time he had been employed by Carr & Co, Biscuit Manufacturer of Sunderland. Leslie's father died in 1916 in Portsmouth. Leslie had enlisted in Portsmouth as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers (Service No. 2798). He transferred firstly to the 25th Battalion and later to the 8th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Service No. 47062) and is shown on all records as a Lance Corporal except on the WGC records. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action in France on 27th September 1918 whilst serving with the 25th Company of the 8th Battalion and was buried at Sains-les-Marquion British War Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.C.23). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.   His wife was in receipt of his financial effects in due course and his mother, Agnes, was granted a pension.  His wife went on to remarry a Henry Cleeve in Fareham, Hampshire, in 1920. There were no children of either marriage.