| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Henry Atkin Leighton was born the 27 May 1895 in Beverley and baptised the 7 Jul 1895 in the Beverley Wesleyan Circuit. He was the youngest son of John Henry and Margaret Ann Leighton, who ran a fruit shop in Wednesday Market, Beverley. He had an older brother John William and an older sister Annie Elizabeth. Both Henry and John William served and died in the war.
In 1901 Henry lived with his family at Victoria Barracks, Beverley, his father was a Sergeant in the army. In 1911 Henry was working as a helper in his father's fruit shop, his father having left the army. Henry was a member of the Church Lads Brigade wher he was a drummer and a sergeant before he joined up.
He enlisted in Beverley and served with the East Yorkshire Regiment's 4th Battalion in A company. Private Henry Leighton number 4447 died on 17 Jun 1916 aged 21. He was buried in Lindenhoeck Chalet Military Cemetery, having died of gas wounds. The personal inscription on his grave was chosen by his father and read 'he went at his country's call a bright sunny lad straight and tall'. Henry gained the Victory Medal posthumously.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |