The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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258647 Cpl. Leslie Lewis Webb British Army 14th Field Squadron Royal Engineers from:Norton, Nr Shifnal Shropshire. (d.21st Aug 1944) Before the war, Leslie Webb learnt his trade as a bricklayer, a trade he continued when he joined the Royal Engineers in April 1941, becoming a Sapper. After training he joined 14 Field Squadron RE and served at various locations in the UK between 1941 and 1944. On 19th June 1944 Leslie and his comrades embarked on the SS Standridge heading for France, landing at Le Hamel on the 25th June. 14th Field Squadron were attached to the Guards Armoured Division and supported them during operations in northern France. The Squadron's tasks were to clear minefields and repair roads and bridges. The personnel had only rudimentary mine clearance training. It was during a mine clearing task on the 21st August 1944 near Chenedelle, Lower Normandy, that a Reigel anti-tank mine exploded. Two Sappers were killed instantly, Leslie was seriously wounded and taken to a nearby dressing station where he succumbed to his wounds. Leslie is buried in the St Charles-de-Percy War Cemetery, just north of Vire, France. He is commemorated on the War Memorial in Stockton Churchyard in Shropshire and also a memorial bench outside ˜The Old School in Village Road, Norton. Here follows an eyewitness account of the his death: 'The Germans had placed R Mines (Riegel anti-tank mines) in ditches alongside roads near Viessoix, and the French public reported this to the British Army. Cpl. Webb was driven by truck with his section (18 men) to the scene and a mine was picked up and placed across his knees. He asked his driver "Have you got a pair of pliers?" These were given to him. Most of the men continued to play cards in the truck. There was a loud explosion that left two men dead at the scene and two wounded, Cpl. Webb was found in a nearby field and conveyed to a forward dressing station. No further attempts were made to defuse these mines after this, instead, they were scooped up and transported by truck to a place of detonation. The eyewitness had been with Cpl. Webb since 1941. The Cpl Leslie Webb Bridge. Somewhere in Europe 1944 Stephen Speke Add to this record.  Related Content: 14th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Guards Armoured Division Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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