Private Leonard Henry Hall
| Date of Birth | c. Feb 1897 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 22 |
| Date of Death | May 1919 |
| Service Number | 9896 |
| Military Service | 35th Battalion Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) |
| Merton Address | 33 Wilton Road, Colliers Wood |
| Local Memorial | Christ Church, Colliers Wood |
Additional Information
Leonard Henry Hall was born in Hackney in February 1897. He was the son of Henry Isaac Hall and Henrietta (nee Prickett). His parents had married on 27th August 1892 at St. Pauls Church Upper Holloway. His father worked as a Corn Dealer in Mare Street Hackney, where the family first resided.
By the time Leonard was born his parents already had two girls: Ethel born in 1895 and Helen in 1896. Leonard also had two younger brothers: Douglas born in 1900 and Eric born in 1903.
In the census of 1901, the family had moved from Hackney and were living in Worthington Road, Tolworth. They then moved to Surbiton, and later to Kingston where in 1911 were living at 2 Selwood Villas, Horace Road a property with five rooms. Leonards parents had been married for 18 years and had 7 children of which two had died. Leonard was now aged 13.
The following year Leonard left school and took up a five-year apprenticeship as an upholsterer.
In 1913 the family moved to the Merton area and were living at 5 Devonshire Road, Colliers Wood, then in 1914 they took up residence at 33 Wilton Road, Colliers Wood.
With the outbreak of war Leonard enlisted at Millbank in London on the 10th of August 1914 as a Private with the Royal Army Medical Corps, (RAMC) 35th Battalion. He was given the service number 9896 and was to serve in a military hospital in England, possibly due to him being aged 17 years and 6 months.
The RAMC was a specialist Corps in the British Army which provided medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and peace.
Leonard was himself admitted as a patient on 25th March 1915 suffering from Rheumatic fever he was discharged on 28th April and returned to duty with his unit.
Leonard was posted overseas to Salonika on 11th November 1915 where he remained serving with his unit till 21st August 1917. He returned home to England where he was admitted to a Sanatorium (Most likely in Epsom) suffering from Tuberculosis of the lungs.
Leonard was discharged from the Army on 15th September 1917 as he was no longer physically fit for war service. His war records stated his condition was the result of active service in Salonika and he was now totally incapacitated in the sanatorium receiving treatment. He had served a total of 3 years and 37 days.
Leonard died in May 1919 aged 22. He is remembered along with four others at Christ Church, Colliers Wood. Their names appear on the right of the altar, a carved oak lectern is inscribed “They shall walk in white for they are worthy”
Leonard parents remained living at Wilton Road till 1923.