The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with L.

Surnames Index


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Sgt. Nigel Gray Leakey VC..     British Colonial Army 1/6th Battalion King's African Rifles   from Kenya

(d.19th May 1941)

Nigel Gray Leakey was born on 1st od January 1913 in Kiganjo, Kenya,he was 28 years old, and a sergeant in the 1/6th Battalion, King's African Rifles during the Second World War when he was awarded the VC.

"On 19 May 1941 at Kolito, Abyssinia, when the Allied forces had made a bridgehead against the strong Italian opposition, the enemy made a sudden counter attack with both light and medium tanks. In the face of withering fire, Sergeant Leakey leaped on top of one of the tanks, wrenched open the turret and shot all the crew except the driver, whom he forced to drive the tank to cover. Along with three others, he tried to repeat this with another tank, but just as he opened the turret, he was killed. The confusion and loss of armour Leakey caused was critical to the Italian defeat in the battle. Captain David Hines witnessed the event through binoculars, as did other soldiers."

Leakey has no known grave and is commemorated on the East Africa Memorial, near Nairobi, Kenya.




HA Leam .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

HA Leam served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




GH Leamon .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

GH Leamon served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. Edward Dennis Leamy .     Royal Air Force 144 Squadron   from Canterbury, Kent

(d.11th July 1940)

Edward Leamy was one of four children of Michael Edward Leamy of Bradford, Yorkshire, and Annie Louise Croucher of Frittenden, Kent and he was living with his parents in Canterbury, Kent, at the start of the war. He was my third cousin, once removed.

He was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner on Handley Page Hampden P4366 of 144 Squadron, that was based at Hemswell, Lincolnshire, at the time and is listed in Larry Donnelly's "The Other Few". P4366 was taking part in a raid on Wanne-Eikel, which was the largest marshalling yard in the central Ruhr area, when it was hit by Flak and crashed near Kessel, in Holland. They were some 80 kilometers from their target but it is unclear whether they were shot down on their way in or on their way back.The crew of four were all killed and are buried alongside each other in Jonkerbos War Cemetery in Nijmegen, some 60 km from the crash site.

The crew were

  • Pilot Officer Ian Milne Hossack, aged 19, from Otford, Kent
  • Sergeant Eric Basil Hartley France, the Observer, aged 24, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
  • Sergeant Edward Dennis Leamy, a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, aged 20, from Canterbury, Kent.
  • Sergeant Clarence Rose, a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Although no accurate details have been traced it seems probable that Sergeant Rose was aged 20 and from Rotherham, Yorkshire.




Frank Charles Lear .     109 Squadron Royal Air Force   from Kingsteignton




Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear .     RAF VR 10 Squadron

My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.

Information from lostbombers.co.uk:

Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.

F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.

  • Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
  • Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
  • Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
  • Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
  • F/O K.S.Lear KIA
  • F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
  • Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
  • Sgt K.R.Norton KIA




  • Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear .     RAF VR 10 Squadron

    My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.

    Information from lostbombers.co.uk:

    Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.

    F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.

  • Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
  • Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
  • Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
  • Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
  • F/O K.S.Lear KIA
  • F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
  • Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
  • Sgt K.R.Norton KIA




  • Ord.Sea. Reginald Edward Lear .     Merchant Navy HMS Penelope   from Essex




    RJC Lear .     British Army

    RJC Lear served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    Pte. Sydney Frederick Lear .     British Army East Yorkshire Regiment   from Hull, East Yorkshire

    Sydney Lear was held as a Prisoner of War.




    Pte. Timothy Daniel Lear .     British Army 1st Btn., C Coy. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.13th Aug 1944)




    WO. Ian Thomas McEwen "Lofty" Learmonth .     Royal Australian Air Force 667 Squadron   from Katamatitie, Victoria, Australia

    Ian Learmonth was assigned to 667 Squadron from 4th of October 1944 to 12th of July 1945.




    Seaman John Samuel Learning .     Royal Navy   from 3 Duckworth St., St. John's, Newfoundland.




    Store Keeper 2nd Class Joseph F. "Reds" Leary .     US Navy Sugar Division USS Boise   from Havertown, PA

    My Grandfather Joseph F. Leary, Store Keeper 2nd class fought on the USS Boise from 1942 until 1946. He is 87 years old and still speaks often of his time on the ship and the men he served with. We would be very interested in hearing from anyone who remembers him.




    Joseph F. Leary .     US Navy USS Boise

    My Grandfather Joseph F. Leary, Store Keeper 2nd class fought on the USS Boise from 1942 until 1946.  He is 87 years old and still speaks often of his time on the ship and the men he served with.  We would be very interested in hearing from anyone who remembers him.




    LJ Leary .     British Army

    LJ Leary served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    RM Leary .     British Army Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

    RM Leary served with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    Robert Matthew Leary .     British Army 1st Battalion, C Company Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry   from Bradford

    Bob Leary

    My father, Bob Leary and two brothers enlisted before the war and when war broke out my father was transferred to Strensall Queen Elizabeth Barracks to help make up 1st Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. My uncle told me that he lost track of my father but met up with him some time later and was told that my father had been in London for some high up reason and had been to Holland. My father had told me that he'd been part of a group to evacuate the Dutch royal family as German paratroopers were after them.

    He embarked on the Viceroy of India on 30th (or possibly 20th) August 1942 and arrived in Bombay on his birthday which was 24th October 1942. While in Poona the regiment changed to 149 RAC squadron which was made up of A B C & D squadrons and that led to him fighting in Burma. My aunt told me that a ship my father was on was hit and he was in the water for some time and suffered shell shock but only had two weeks leave and then had to go back to his regiment. I don't know any more details of that. After Burma he came back to the UK on the Empress of Burma.




    RC Leat .     British Army 8th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment

    RC Leat served with the 8th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    C D Leatham .     British Army West Yorkshire Regiment

    C Leatham served with the West Yorkshire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    Fus. John Leathem .     British Army 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers   from Lurgan, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

    Taken in Stalag VII-A

    My father John Leathem enlisted on 19th of June 1941 with the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Ballykilner Camp in Co. Down, Northern Ireland. On 15th of November 1943 he was posted to the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers joining them at San Salvo in Italy. He fought with his regiment until 18th of June 1944 while advancing with the 56 Recce Group advance heading North of Orvieto towards Lake Trasimene. Withdrawn from the front he would spend the summer recuperating in Southern Italy before rejoining his regiment on 16th September 1944 while they were preparing in Taranto to rejoin the battle front. The unit then saw action starting in Castel Del Rio. My father's company was one of two companies that took part in the ill fated initial attack on Monte Spaduro. After a relatively unopposed advance onto Monte Spaduro the Germans counter attacked strongly on October 20th, 1944 and and completely overran the positions of A and B companies 1st Battalion RIrF after they had ran out of ammunition. My father was one of some 40 men taken prisoner. Many of his unit did not survive the counter attack. He was transported to Stalag VII-A and held POW until liberated by the Americans on 29th of April 1945. He seldom talked about his experiences in the trenches and in the POW camp. He lived a long life after the war although sometimes in pain from his war wounds. He died peacefully of natural causes on St. Patricks Day 1994 at the age of 84.




    Sgt. Peter J. Leather .     Royal Air Force 90 Sqd. (d.26th Aug 1944)

    My husband's uncle, Sgt Peter J. Leather, flew out of Tuddenham on Operation Kiel on the 26th August 1944 and unfortunately never made it back. He was about 19 at the time. The plane was Lancaster HK604 WP-G. The bodies of three of the crew were found on Sylt but the others have never been found.




    Pte. Thomas L. Leather .     British Army The Durham Light Infantry   from Liverpool

    (d.8th January 1946)




    William Frederick Leather .     Royal Navy HMS Victory   from Bromley, Kent




    Walter Leatherbarrow .     Army   from Oldham, Lancashire




    WH Leatherbarrow .     British Army

    WH Leatherbarrow served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    S/L D. Leatherland DFC..     97 Squadron




    L/Sgt. Ray Eric Leaton .     British Army Army Air Corps   from Kettering, Northants

    Ray Leaton served with the Army Air Corps.




    Cpl. Mary Joan Leatt .     Auxiliary Territorial Service

    My mum, Mary Joan Leatt, served in the ATS between the years of 1940 and 1945. She was based in Macclesfield and London and served on the first radar. We are tracing her history at the moment and would appreciate any information anyone can provide.




    DJ Leaver .     British Army

    DJ Leaver served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.





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