| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
John Henry (known as Harry) Leighton was born in Sep 1893 in Leven Carr, Brandesburton and baptised the 1 Oct 1895. He was one of 15 children of George and Mary Agnes Leighton and grew up in Brandesburton and Beverley. His father worked as a cow keeper and farm labourer. Before the war Harry worked as a farm labourer on a farm in Kilham.
Harry enlisted with the Wagoners in Driffield on 19 Aug 1914 and eventually was transferred to the 8th Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment in 1917. On 24 Feb 1916 Harry married Annie Hunt at Beverley Minster. Harry died the 24 Aug 1918 of dysentery at the 24th clearing station whilst serving in Italy. He is buried at Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery. He was awarded the 14 Star, Victory and British Medal.
A memorial from his wife was published in the Beverley Guardian on 14 Sep 1918
‘If I could have held his dying hand
And whispered a last farewell
The blow would not have been so hard
For me the one he loved so well’
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |