212865 Pte. Ernest McLeod British Army 1/5 Sutherland & Caithness Btn. Seaforth Highlanders from:11, Pole Street, Bolton, Lancs. (d.4th Nov 1918 ) Ernest McLeod was the adopted son of my grandparents and volunteered for army service when war broke out. He was said to be 21 years old at the time.
He served in Belgium and France and was said by the family to have been injured on four occasions, being repatriated to the UK on each occasion and returned to his unit after the first three but, unfortunately, died in Cromarty Military Hospital on the fourth occasion, it then being November 4th 1918.
He was to have been given a military funeral in Cromarty but my grandparents wanted him back home. They therefore travelled to Cromarty, claimed his body and had it trained back to Bolton. He is buried in the family grave at Christ Church Harwood, the funeral being attended by a Sergeant Major from his regiment who draped the coffin with a regimental flag. The coffin was lowered into the grave at 11:00 am and the sound of church bells could be heard from far and near as the armistice was declared.
I have to date been unable to trace any details of his birth or natural parentage or his war record which, I fear, may have been amongst those destroyed in the London Blitz. I will of course keep searching, he will be remembered.
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