Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Brown a journeyman tailor, born 1861 in Quorn, Leics., and his wife Hannah a dressmaker, born 1863 in Sheffield, Yorks. Leonard Dable Brown was born in 1893 in Coalville, Leics., his siblings were, Henry Edward, born 1884 in Woodhouse Eaves, Leics., and Gertrude, born 1885 in Markfield, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at James Street, Coalville, Leics. In April 1911 Leonard was employed as a printer and was residing in the family home at 30, James Street, Coalville, Leics., together with his father, now a tailor, and his mother. The War Diary entry for events from the 24th to the 30th September 1916 records. East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about a 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 17th, 1916

PRIVATE L. D. BROWN

Mr and Mrs Hy. Brown, of James Street, Coalville, have been officially notified that their son, Private Leonard Dable Brown, of the Leicestershire Regiment, has been killed in action. He was a single man, 23 years of age, and before the war was engaged as a printer in the employ of Mr George Brown, of Ashby, having previously served his apprenticeship with Mr J. W. West, printer, of Coalville. He enlisted two years ago, and had been in France a little over 12 months. A brother of the deceased is Mr Henry Edward Brown, formerly well-known in Coalville as a physical culturist. He conducted a physical culture class at the Christ Church School and was a frequent contributor to the press on the subject, under the pen name of “Astro”. A few years ago ‘Astro’ left Coalville for America, and was filling an important post there in a physical culture school when war broke out, but like thousands more of his compatriots abroad, responded to the call, and is now serving in the forces. Their father, Mr Henry Brown, is a tailor in the employ of the Coalville Co-Operative Society. Private L. D. Brown was in the signalling section. He was killed on September 25th.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS

Mr and Mrs H. Brown desire, through the medium of this paper, to tender their sincere thanks to all friends for the many expressions of sympathy received on the occasion of the death of their son, Private L. D. Brown, of the Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action, September 25th, 1916.

20, James Street
Coalville
November 13, 1916.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 28th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of our dear Leo (Pte. L. D. Brown, 16132), Signaller, 8th Leicesters, aged 23; killed in action in France on September 25th, 1916 of 30, James Street, Coalville.

“Could we have raised his dying head
Or heard his last farewell,
The grief would not have been so hard
To those who loved him well.
He bravely answered duty’s call,
He gave his life for one and all,
But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow,
None but an aching heart can know.
Christ will clasp the broken chain
Closer, when we meet again.”

From Father, Mother, Brother, Sister and family and Fiancée.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 13th, 1918

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of our dear son, Private L. D. Brown, 16132, Signaller, 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, the beloved son of Mr and Mrs Brown, 30, James Street, Coalville, killed in action in France, September 25th, 1916, aged 23.

“We never knew what pain he had,
We never saw him die,
We only know he passed away
And never said “Good-bye”

From Father, Mother, Brother, Sister and family and Fiancée



Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 18/10/2017