224967 A/CSM. Leonard Gillborn DCMBritish Army 1st Btn Northumberland Fusiliers from:11 Addington Road, Nottingham (d.15th Nov 1914) Acting Company Sergeant-Major Leonard Gillborn D.C.M. served with the 1st Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers, and was regarded with admiration by many ranks in 3rd Division for his conduct during the fighting for Herenthage Chateau on 15th November 1914.
Lieutenant William la Touche Congreve, an officer of The Rifle Brigade who served on the staff of 3rd Division as an Aide de Camp to the General Officer Commanding, noted in his diary that Gillborn had accounted for eight German snipers in the space of twenty-four hours, many at the close range of under fifty yards. He also recorded how Gillborn had led a party of fifty “stormers†from the 5th Fusiliers as they counter-attacked and recaptured the Chateau and the stables, remarking that it was: “A good show and, my word, what a relief it was to us.†Gillborn was mortally wounded during the assault and died later that same day.
His death was reported in The Nottingham Evening Post on 30 November 1914:
“News has been received by Mrs Gillborn, of 11, Addington Road, Nottingham, of the death at the front of her son, Company Sergeant-Major Leonard Gillborn, of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The deceased, who was only 29 years of age, served for some time with his regiment in India and has gained promotion since he has been in the fighting line. The distinguished conduct medal was bestowed upon him by the Commander-in-Chief for conspicuous bravery in the field, and Sir Douglas Haig added his congratulations on what he termed “a well-earned reward,†and expressed his regret that the gallant soldier did not survive to receive it."
The commanding officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers wrote to his mother expressing his sympathy:
“Your gallant son was my acting company sergeant-major. On the night of the 15th November he very gallantly led a charge with 50 men of the company and succeeded in capturing two trenches and a stable which were held by the Germans. By his death the battalion has lost a gallant non-commissioned officer, and I feel that I have lost my right hand man, and a true friend. Enclosed is a copy of the order, from which you will see that your son was awarded the medal for distinguished conduct in the field. No man more thoroughly deserved it.â€
Leonard Gillborn D.C.M. is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a Company Quartermaster-Sergeant and not by the acting rank he held on the day he died. His mother, Maria, later lived at 30 Norton Street in Radford. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
|