William James Leake (1893-1917)

Service No: 266832 – 1^st/7^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

William James Leake was born in Castle Bromwich in 1893 and baptised at St Mary and St Margaret Church on 6th August 1893. He was the ninth of the ten children of parents, John, a bricklayer’s labourer, and Mary Ann Robotham. Two of the couple’s children had died by 1911. The family lived at Croft Cottage, Coleshill Road, Castle Bromwich and, in 1911, William was one of the four children living in the parental home. He was aged 17 and listed as a labourer.

William volunteered for the Army in December 1915, when he was aged 24 and listed as working as a platelayer with the Midland Railway. He was initially posted to the Reserves before being mobilised in March 1916 and sent to France on 24th July 1916. He gave his mother, Mary Ann, as his next of kin, his father having died in 1912.

He was wounded in action on 17th November 1916 and admitted to No. 45 Casualty Clearing Station until 23rd November when he was returned to duty working on the Light Railway as a navvie. It is thought that he helped to construct the railway tracks that were vital to ensure supplies could reach the front. He rejoined his battalion on 27th May 1917, less than a month before he was killed in action.  

He is buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, 19 kilometres south of Arras. He is also commemorated locally at Castle Bromwich.