| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Herbert was born in Ipswich, Suffolk on 22 Nov 1879, the son of Spencer Stephen an iron moulder and Sarah Ann Leek (nee Green). She was the daughter of John Green and was born in Clacton, Essex. In the 1881 Census Sarah aged 36 and was employed as a stay maker. Her children were Spencer aged 7, Ellen aged 6 and Herbert aged nearly 1. By the time of the 1891 Census Herbert was resident at St John`s School, Freehold Road, Ipswich where he was described as "an ordinary pauper inmate".
Herbert married Florence Ann Julian on 19 Jul 1909 at Beverley Minster. She was the daughter of John Robert Julian a former police officer with Beverley Borough Police, he died in 1913. Their address was 15 Norwood Grove, Beverley. Their daughter Annie Constance was born on 1 Aug 1910 and at the time of the 1911 Census the family was living at Victoria Barracks, Beverley.
Herbert`s military career began in Oct 1894 when he enlisted as a drummer in the 1st West Yorkshire Regiment, in which he remained for 12 years, serving in various parts of China and India. He retired from the Army in 1906 when he was presented with a silver watch by his fellow bandsmen. He re-enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment as a Lance Corporal in Jun 1909 and later transferred to the 6th East Yorkshires as a Sergeant Drummer. He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles from 1 Jul 1915. He landed with his Battalion at Sulva Bay during the night of 6th/7th of Aug. The Battalion was digging in south east of Chocolate Hill when Herbert was killed in action on 20 Aug 1915 aged 35. He has no known grave. He was listed as a casualty in the Hull Daily Mail on 14 and 22 Sep 1915.
Herbert Arthur Leek is remembered on the Helles Memorial to the Missing in Turkey, the Norwood Street Shrine, Beverley St Mary`s Church Roll of Honour, Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Beverley Division Roll of Honour, East Yorkshire Regiment Memorial in Beverley Minster, Beverley War Memorial, Hengate
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |