Service No: 12438 58th – Company Machine Gun Corps
Leslie James Jakeway was born on 10th May 1888 the third of seven known children born to William Jakeway, a Cooper, and Emma Bird. By 1911 he was employed as a Compositor.
During the second quarter of 1914 he married Beatrice Hands and their son Leslie Leonard Jakeway was born on 1st May 1915.
Specific details of Leonard’s military career are unknown. What is certain is that he joined the 58th Company of the Machine Gun Corps. The Machine Gun Corps was created by Royal Warrant on October 14 followed by an Army Order on 22 October 1915. The 58th Company was formed in Grantham and moved to France to join the 19th Division on 14th February 1916. It moved into the 199th Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps on 14th February 1918.
Leonard was killed in action on 24th April 1918. He was a recipient of the Military Medal for outstanding bravery. He is buried at Pozieres, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France and remembered on the family grave in Castle Bromwich Graveyard.
The only direct connection with Castle Bromwich that we can find is through his wife who lived here and died at 43 Darley Ave,Castle Bromwich on 29th June1949. Leonard’s son Leslie Leonard Jakeway served during WW2.
