Reginald John Leah

Story:
Reginald John Leah was born in 1894 in Mottisfont, Hampshire. He was the son of Humphrey Leah, a Game Keeper, and Selina Leah (née Smith). At the time of the 1911 Census they were living in Chettle, Dorset. Reginald was single, working as a Game Keeper and was a boarder at Woodlands, Berwick St. John. He enlisted on 26th August 1914 at Shaftesbury as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10101). At the time of enlistment he had been living at Hewelsfield, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He was killed in action on 20th July 1916 and was buried at Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Wailly, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.F.1). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His father died in 1918.