Reginald John Leah

Story:
Reginald John Leah was born in 1884 in Mottisfont, Hampshire,, and baptised there on 26 Oct 1884. 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, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 26th August 1914 at Shaftesbury, Dorset, 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 initially in the Balkans from 11 Jul 1915 and later in France & Flanders from 3 Jul 1916. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. 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. His mother was awarded a dependent's pension of 2s.6d (12p.) per week.