A Soldier’s Memorial and a Mystery Colonel

To commemorate Remembrance Sunday this year, we have chosen this distinguished portrait of an unknown gentleman in military uniform. The photograph was brought into the library along with an accompanying memorial card which made their way down to the archives at the end of last year.

At first glance you would assume that the soldier commemorated on the card is the same man in the photograph. After all, the items came together and were from the same donor. Closer inspection, however, reveals a discrepancy in the ages: Sergeant Leather, as the card states, died aged 24 – clearly the man in the photograph is much more mature. Also, this is not the uniform of a sergeant in the 20^th Manchester Regiment. You learn never to assume when cataloguing archival records!

After corresponding with our colleague over at The Fusilier Museum, we learn that the cuff insignia marks this man out as a Colonel. Although the cap badge is indistinct (the top of his cap being somewhat depressed) the collar badges offer a clue to his regiment – it being either The Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers: both being a flaming grenade with a scroll underneath. The two regiments’ badges are almost identical from a distance but have a subtle difference under scrutiny.

The wording on the bottom of the mount reads ‘copy by Tassell Carlisle’ (a Google search confirms that F W Tassell was a commercial photographer in Carlisle during the First World War era). However, he may not have taken the original photograph but perhaps reproduced this one from an image or negative brought in by his client. Its large size (37cm x 26xm) and attractive double mount suggest whoever requested this copy clearly wanted it for display: a treasured possession as all photographs of loved ones become; certainly worthy of preservation and just one reason to welcome it into our archives.

Unfortunately, the donor is unable to advise the connection between the photograph and the memorial card (if indeed there is one) and cannot recall how the items came into her possession. She explains that she knew of the Leather family and that the man in the picture looks vaguely familiar. To sum up: there may be a connection to the Leather family (although my own research has not provided any evidence); a possible link with the town of Carlisle? (Although we do hope his roots lie in Bury, that way we’re sure he’s found his way home!) And served with The Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers. If you have any information which might help us identify our Colonel, please do get in touch.

The Memorial Card

The memorial card simply states: “In Memory and in Honour of Jack, (Sergeant John N Leather, 20^th Manchester Regiment), died September 25^th, at 21 Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action in France, on Monday, Sept. 4^th, 1916, aged 24 years”.

Twenty or so agonising days the family must have waited, for news they hoped would settle their minds that Jack had been spared; initially reports were positive, “he was progressing very favourably” – a hope they must have clung on to.

Image of John Norman Leather from Bury Guardian Oct 7th 1916

Before enlisting in 1914 his life was full: a promising career as an accountant at Fitton’s Accountancy Firm in Manchester; he was also secretary of the Clerke Street Sunday School. He loved to sing and his voice could be heard at Union Street Chapel where he sang in the choir. A sports enthusiast: he was a playing member of the Bury Cricket Club and a member of Lowes Park Golf Club too! All these interests he gave up in exchange to “do his bit for the country’s cause”.

The bullet which entered his kidneys was extracted but as he was carried to the dressing station he was struck by shrapnel in his back and legs, and he subsequently succumbed at the casualty clearing station. The family was duly informed. Flags hung half-mast at his father’s firm on Paradise Street and also at the Clerke Street Sunday School.

John Norman Leather lived at 205 Walmersley Road (Holmen Villa), Bury, with his parents and siblings in the 1911 Census (marked on this 1910 map with a green pin). This is where the family where still living at the time of his death in 1916.

Sources:

Biographical details taken from an obituary published in The Bury Times. If you would like to search or explore WW1 obituaries and images taken from Bury’s local newspapers you can do so over on our website Bury Archives Online.

Grateful thanks to Philip Mather of The Fusilier Museum for his military knowledge.

Wendy