Laing, C. W.
Charles William Laing was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd battalion of the Buffs, appointed as such at the beginning of 1915. He went to the Front as a Colour Sergeant and "his excellent soldiering abilities were recognised" by his commission. He had also served during the South Africa campaign, and been wounded at Paardeburg.

He came from Canterbury, living at 17 Clyde Street, and married Emily Fox, from Queen Street in Dover. His background was military, as his father had had a distinguished army career, and had served in the Crimea. Charles was a Freemason in the Military Jubilee Lodge, Dover

He was killed in action on 24 April, 1915, when he was 36, and is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Belgium (as above). His wife later moved to 6 Mark's Court, Abercorn Place, St John's Wood, in London.

note: Douglas William Hammond, whose name appears above 2nd Lt Laing's at the Menin Gate, came from Nonington, near Dover.

Landall, H. H.
Hubert (Herbert) Harold Landall, 76932, was just 18 when he died on 12 May 1918. He served as a Private in the 9th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (formerly 75270, 107th TR battalion).

He was born in Dover and enlisted there, but lived in Folkestone. He was the son of Richard and Bertha Landall, of Forge House, Lyminge, Folkestone, and is buried at Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet in France.

note: he is the only person surnamed Landall recorded as having died by "Soldiers Died". F J Wilson of 7 Russell Street requested that an H H Landall should go on the Memorial

Laslett, W. S. B.
William Samuel Barrett Laslett, G.9191, was a Private in the 1st Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He died on 28 August 1916, aged 22. He is buried in the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium

He was born, lived, and enlisted in Dover. He was the son of John Samuel Laslett and his wife Sarah, née Baker, daughter of farmer William Baker, who had married on 1 July 1883 at Christchurch in Folkestone. Mr Laslett was then a baker, and the son of John Barrett Laslett, a RN Mariner.

In 1901 the family were at 23 Oxenden Street, with Mr Laslett working as a shopkeeper baker on his own account. Their eldest son Albert John William, then 16, was a clerk for a harbour contractor. Percy Baker, 15, born 28 September 1885, was an engine cleaner for the SECR. They had a daughter, Edith Florence Victoria, 13, born 22 May 1887, and William, born 14 August 1894, was then just 6. All the children had been christened at Holy Trinity, Dover, their address being 24 Oxenden Street, except Percy, whose address was no 23.

By 1911 they were at 26 Dudley Road, Folkestone. Mr Laslett had become a marine porter for the SECR, while Albert was working as an accountant in a newspaper printing office. William was a shop assistant at an oil colour merchant.

In 1915 William married Ethel A Richards in Dover. They had a daughter, Ethel, born in 1917, after her father's death. Ethel remarried in 1918, to William C Doe.

William's nephew, Leonard Albert Lawrence, was killed in 1944.

in memoriam, above left - 24 August 1917
in memoriam, above right - 31 August 1917

Laurie, A. W.

Alfred William Laurie was born on 25 June 1890, at Victoria Barracks, Belfast. He was the third of the seven children, one of the three born in Ireland, of Fred Horace Laurie, a Colour Sergeant in the East Lancashire Regiment, 59th Foot, and Bessie Bath Laurie (nee Banks). Following postings the family spent time in several locations, including Gibraltar, and Burnley, where other children were born. The couple probably met when the regiment was billeted at Dover.

Fred Laurie became ill while he was stationed at Burnley, and, after transfer to St Barts Hospital, London, died on 6 January 1899, when he was 41. Bessie, who was then 36, returned to Dover, living in the York Street area, including at Youdens Court, and in November 1915 at 3 Queen Street. She also lived at 8 Albany Place.

Three of her sons were admitted to the Duke of York's Royal Military School, which was then based in Chelsea. Alfred, formerly a pupil at St Mary's school, attended between 13 October 1899 and 10 July 1904. He later joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, 47th company, on 15 August 1906, and had an exemplary record. He served at the Front for nine months from the beginning of the war, and was appointed Instructor in gunnery. His commission as 2nd Lieutenant, for services in the field, occurred on 6 October 1915 (another report gives May 1916 for a commission)

The telegram reads: Deeply regret inform you that 2nd Lieut A W Laurie R.G.A. died of wounds November 22nd. The Army Council express their sympathy

Alfred died from wounds incurred in the Battle of the Somme, on 22 November 1916, while serving in the 42nd Siege Battery. He was 26, and left a widow, Florence Rhoda Laurie, from Shoeburyness Essex, and residing later at 24 St Thomas Square, Newport, Isle of Wight. He is buried at Bazentin-Le-Petit cemetery in France.

Alfred Laurie with fellow NCOs and officers - he is third from left in front row

Alfred's younger brother Charles James also became a 2nd Lieutenant in the same regiment; he was awarded the Military Cross. The youngest brother, Henry Samuel, served in the Tank Corps. A sister, Rosina, was educated at the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum (later School), at Wandsworth).       (We Remember 06)

with thanks to Mrs B Newton

Laws, A. F.
Arthur Frederick Laws, 88485, was in the 2nd/6th battalion of the King's (Liverpool Regiment) (formerly 5487 the East Surrey Regiment). Before enlisting in Dover he had worked for 18 years as a grocery assistant at the central branch of the Co-op, and he had been also the secretary of the Dover Trades Council.

He died on 30 October 1917 at the age of 38, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial in Belgium. He was married to Alice Laws, of 2 Conrad Villas, Underdown Road, Dover, and lived and was born in the town.

photo Jean Marsh 

Lee, S. G.
Sidney George Lee, 90733, was a Gunner in the 6th Division of the Ammunition Col, RFA. Formerly he had been 36227, a Gunner in the RGA. He was taken Prisoner of War, and died as such in Asia Minor on 31st December 1916, when he was 25. He is commemorated on the Basra memorial, Iraq.

He was born and enlisted in Dover, and he was the son of Henry and Sarah Lee, of 6 Dublin Cottages, River, Dover, and the husband of Alice Maud Mary Mitchell (formerly Lee) of 21 Randolph Road, off Union Road, Buckland, Dover.  

Leeds, F. J.
Frederick James Leeds, 29546, was in the Royal Engineers, for the Signal Depot at Fenny Stratford (near Milton Keynes), acting as Sergeant. He was born at Dover; his parents had lived for over 40 years at Marine Parade. He was married to Ada A. Leeds, of 19 Leyburn Road, Dover.

He had served for over 15 years, in India, in the South African War, and was a veteran of the Tirah campaign. He was working at the Post Office Telegraph Department at Birmingham when the Great War began, and he rejoined the colours. While on a short  leave visit he was suddenly taken ill at his then home in Birmingham, where he had enlisted, and died on 8 February 1917.

He was buried at Birmingham (Yardley) cemetery, in the United Kingdom, on 13th February, with full military honours.  The words at the foot of his headstone read, "Until the day breaks". 

Letty, R. R.
Reginald Richard Letty, 19796, was born at Stonehouse in Devon and enlisted at Devonport in Devon. He was in the 6th battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, serving as a Lance Corporal (formerly 38093 of the Devonshire Regiment).

He was killed in action on 23 August 1918, and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois memorial in France.

Lewis, E. C.
Ernest Charles Lewis, G/9900, was a Private in the A company of the 6th battalion of The Buffs. He was killed in action on 3 May 1917, aged 20. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.

He was the son of Albert Charles Lewis. In 1911 Mr Lewis, aged 58, was a builders contractor, living with his wife, Elizabeth at 32 Maison Dieu Road, Dover. With them were three children; Katherine, 25, a shop assistant in a drapery, Ernest, 14, and Winifred, 13. All the family were born in Dover.

Mr Lewis (known to his friends as "Di"),  supported outdoor sport and was once a vice-chairman of Dover Football Club. A partner in the firm Austen and Lewis, he had recently suffered the loss of his wife and since then had not been in good health. On 11 February 1920, after an evening at the Dover Institute, being also a keen member of their bowling club, he died from a heart attack at his home. He is buried at Charlton.

Lewis, G. D. G.
George David G. Lewis, 5557, was a Serjeant in the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line (including Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps), in the 2nd Dragoon Guards battalion (Queen's Bays). He died 1 September 1914, in action. He is buried in the Verberie French National Cemetery (plot unknown).

He lived in Dover but was born in Islington (or Invernesshire) and enlisted in London.  His mother, Anne, lived at the Red Cow, 1 Folkestone Road, Dover, where she had taken over the licence from her husband Josiah, who had died in 1913. In 1911 George's sister, Hannah Violet Maud, then 24, and his brother, Cecil Rhodes Scott, were also living at the Red Cow; ten years before the family had been at 51 Newington Green, Islington, with Mr Lewis working as a manager in a wine and spirit stores. At home then were also George's sister Annie, a teacher, born in 1883, and his brother John, born in 1891.

George may have been George Edmund Gunn Lewis, who was a Freemason in Military Jubilee, Dover. He joined on 24 December 1913. On 25 November 1914 a vote of sympathy and condolences was passed for his family and for the family of W(alter) B Saunders, after their deaths with the British Expeditionary Force.

Lewis, J. N.
John Norton Lewis's daughter, Lillian, remembers sitting on the step while her father went into the scullery in his uniform to tell her mother that he had been called up.

Her parents had wed on 15 February 1908 at Charlton church. Her father, from Christ Church parish, Hougham, was 23 and her mother, Daisy Gertrude Stroud, who lived at 17 Paul's Place, was 19.  Daisy's father was named Stephen; he was a painter. Lillian's other grandfather, William John Lewis, was a seaman, married to Mary Ann. He acted as one of the witnesses to the marriage, while Elizabeth Beer was the other. John was born and lived in Dover.   

When John was called up he was in a reserved occupation, a seaman working the cross channel ferries. Nevertheless he enlisted in Canterbury as number L/7776, a Private in the 6th battalion of the the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and went to the Front. There he was wounded, losing part of his ear, and he came home for a short convalescence. After his return to the Front a telegram was received, that he was missing, believed killed. His wife refused to accept that he had died, but one of his friends asked her whether she wished to know the truth. She agreed, and was informed that there had been a sniper lying in wait, and that the shot had completely blown away Private Lewis's head.

Private Lewis died on 13 October 1915, when he was 31. He is commemorated on the Loos memorial in France. Daisy took in washing from the Connaught Barracks to supplement her income. She later remarried and became Mrs Manser, giving her address as 40 St James Street. Mr Manser was the well-off owner of the Wheelwright's Arms, known locally as the "Blue Pig" because of the colour of the wall tiles. Later they ran a Post Office at Addington Street in Ramsgate.  Mrs Manser was widowed the second time when her husband died from a paralysing illness.

Through shot and through shell, He fought and fought well, No thought of pain or of fear, Till God thought it best, To lay him to rest, After toiling for those he loved dear. A little while your grave will be o'vertrodden, Soon the frail cross have fallen in the breeze, No loving hands are there to tend and cherish That grave in foreign soil beyond the seas. from his loving wife and daughter

John Norton's younger brother Matt (left of picture) also served; he was in the Navy. There he was a boxing champion, and was once presented with an award for helping a policeman make an arrest.  

with thanks to Mrs Bennett

Lewis, J. W.
John William Lewis, G/24271, had worked for Messrs G and A Clark Ltd, and he had joined the Territorials at the beginning of the War (2383 East Kent)( He then became a Private in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey), 8th battalion, where he died on 23rd December (Soldiers Died says March) 1916 at the age of 20. He is buried at the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France, II K 10.

His parents were Mr and Mrs John A Lewis, of 24 Tower Hamlets Road, Dover, and he was born, enlisted, and lived in the town.

 

In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband John A Lewis died 9th April 1924. Aged 59(?)

Also John W Lewis son of the above Killed in Action in France 16th December 1916 aged ?? RIP

also of Mary A Lewis died 17th February 1926 aged 62 Thy Will Be Done

Lewry, E. J.

He may have been Edward John Lewry, the son of Charles and Eliza of 66 Clarendon Street, Dover, and therefore uncle to Ernest and Charles Sedgewick. He is named on the St Martin's School memorial, but seemingly not recorded by the CWGC. He is not buried at Charlton, St James, or St Mary in Dover.

In 1911 Edward Lewry was an inmate, aged 17, at the Wiltshire Reformatory School, Bugley, Warminster. Charles Lewry had been summoned to the Dover Police Court in May 1907 for not sending his son to school, where his mother said she wished "he could be sent away as she could do nothing with him", and seemingly (under the name John? of 1 Cowgate Hill) again in July for not contributing towards the maintenance of his son in Warminster Reformatory. Mr Lewry said that his son had run away to Chatham, and that he couldn't contribute, being unable to work through having a bad leg and being on a pension of only 1/1 with six children to feed. A comment was made that while at Chatham the son must have been "up to some mischief" as he had ended in a reformatory.

In February 1907 Edward, 12, and Bertram, 10, of 9 Clarendon Place, were before the court charging with stealing oranges, figs, and dates, value 6 shillings, from a store in Priory Gate Road into which they had broken and entered. A couple of months earlier, in November 1906,  they had, with Arthur Shole, 14, and Fred, 12, and Charles Ernest Sedgwick, 10, been charged with stealing a lamp from a bicycle in Trevanion Street.  In January 1902 Charles Lewry had been summoned for not ensuring that his sons Arthur and Edward were at school; Arthur was at that time in custody, having been remanded for stealing 36 lbs of coal; he was sentenced to nine strokes of the birch. Other petty thefts were reported in 1901.

Lilley, W. J.
William John Lilley, T/30427, was a keen footballer for Eythorne and Stonehall. He served as a Driver in the Army Service Corps, attached to the 7th Field Ambulance, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and he died at the Base Hospital from wounds on 22 September 1914, aged 25. He is buried at the Bois Guillaume communal cemetery in France.

He was born in Colombo, Ceylon, and enlisted in Sheffield. He lived in Dover. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Lilley of Derby, and "the beloved husband" of Mrs Constance Maud Lilley, formerly Oakden, of 10 River Street, River, Dover. The couple had married at SS Peter and Paul, River, on 26 December 1913. They became, in 1915, the parents of William Alfred Lilley.

"A sudden change, at God's command he fell.
He had no chance to bid his friends farewell;.
Affliction came, without warning given,
And bid him haste to meet his God in Heaven" (Oct 1914)

Mrs Lilley remarried on 4 October 1919 at River church to Charles Frederick Woodgate. Mrs Woodgate was the aunt of Alfred Oakden.

Locke, G. E.
George Edward Locke, 593431, was born in Rye and enlisted and lived in Dover. He was a Rifleman in the London Regiment 18th (County) of London) battalion (London Irish Rifles) (formerly 1822 of the 4th battalion of The Buffs).

He died of wounds when he was 24, on 7 April 1917, and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military cemetery in Belgium. At the bottom of his headstone are inscribed the words "Rest in Peace"

He was the son of Annie Lydia Locke, of 6 Bulwark Street, Dover, Kent.

(right) a view of Lijssenthoek

Loram, A
Allan Loram, 294257. 1st Class Stoker, Royal Navy. Born on 5 September 1880, he was killed on 22 September 1914 when HMS "Cressy" was torpedoed by the submarine U-9 off the coast of Holland. He is commemorated on the Naval Memorial at Chatham in the United Kingdom.

He was the son of Jesse, a gardener, and Mary Ann Loram, née Seath. In 1891 the family were living at 3 Alexander Cottages, Buckland, when Allan was a Plumber's Mate, and in 1901 he was on board "Minerva". His sister, Jessie Brown, of 7 Union Road, was the relative informed of her brother's death. His nephew, son of his brother Stephen, born in 1914, was named after him.

Allan Loram's Medals British War Medal 1914/15 Star Victory Medal

(Exhibition 06)

Lovell, H. L-M.
(Frederick) Harry Le-Marchant Lovell, 425, was a Gunner, and served in Egypt in the British Mediterranean Expeditionary force, in the Royal Horse Artillery/Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force. He had enlisted in Nottingham. He died on 11 November 1916, from wounds. He is buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt L'Abbe, France, VE17

Born in Guernsey, he was the only son of the late Master Gunner Lovell, RGA, of Dover Castle and he was brother to Mr and Mrs Holbourne of 4 Brook Place, Dover