Leonard Quarmby

LEONARD QUARMBY

Private 20629, 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers

Died 11th July 1916 aged 28

No Known Grave Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

Son of Joseph and Annie Quarmby

Lived Nunroyd, Heckmondwike

Leonard was born in 1898; he was one of the three children of Joseph who was from Normanton and his wife Annie who came from South Shields. His two brothers Albert and William also joined the army, Albert was killed in October 1917 but William survived.

Before the war Leonard had worked as an Errand Boy for a confectioner and he also worked at Firth’s Mill at some point, he is commemorated on the Firth's of Heckmondwike War Memorial in Firth's Park in Bailiffe Bridge, alongside his brother Albert who died in 1917.

He enlisted in Cleckheaton and was killed at Mametz Wood during the Battle of the Somme. The 12th (Service) Battalion the Northumberland Fusiliers was formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part Kitchener's Third New Army.

The battalion was moved to Mametz Wood on the 10th July 1916 which was taken by the 38th Welsh Division on 12th July 1916. The 12th Northumberland Fusiliers were one of the battalions who relieved the 38th Welsh Division; they were heavily shelled whilst trying to dig-in to area between Fricourt and the wood prior to relieving the Welsh division, resulting in many casualties.{PL-109}

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