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Leonard Firth, whose name is on the Kirkheaton Parish Memorial.
(It is worth noting that resulting from fire and water damage during the WW2 Blitz fewer than 40% military records have survived.)
From his baptism, census and military records we know that Leonard was born on 6 September 1895 at Nettleton, Dalton and baptised on the 3 November 1895, at Kirkheaton Parish Church. His parents were Tom and Catherine (nee Popely). He had three brothers and three sisters.
Leonard enlisted on 13 May 1916, joining the 1/5th Duke of Wellingtons West Yorkshire Regiment. At the time he was living at 7 Nettleton, Dalton being employed as a pattern weaver.
He was posted to France on the 6 August 1916 and died from his wounds during the Battle of the Somme, 13 September 1916. He spent a total of 38 days on French soil.
[The life expectancy of a soldier at the Front was 6 weeks]
The photo of Leonard was provide by his cousin’s granddaughter now living in America and his family gravestone can been seen in Kirkheaton Cemetery
The Firth family grave in Kirkheaton cemetery
