Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Ordinary Seaman Leonard Newbury was serving in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve on HMS Renown when he passed through Peterborough East Station and signed the visitors’ book on 6 February 1917.

It has not been possible to positively identify Leonard, but we believe he could be Leonard Charles Newbery who was born in Portsea, Hampshire on 11 March 1897 or 1898 to parents Albert and Annie Marie (nee Gardner).

If so, Leonard’s father was a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy.  In 1901, the family were living at 5 Prince Albert Street, Lerwick, Scotland; Alfred (39), Annie M (38), Alfred R (5) and Leonard C (3).  We could not trace Leonard in the 1911 Census but his family were living at 261 Portnall Road, Maida Hill, Paddington.  His father, Alfred was a naval pensioner and a messenger with the Board of Trade, his brother Alfred was a brewery clerk and he had a sister, Annie, aged 9.

Leonard enlisted in to the Royal Navy Reserve as an Ordinary Seaman on 7 October 1915.  His mother was named as next of kin and lived at 102 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise.  He was 6’1” tall with a 39” chest and brown hair and grey eyes.  He confirmed that he could swim.  On 1 January 1916, he was drafted from the Signal School Depot to Chatham Signal School and became an Ordinary Signalman on 4 January. Leonard served aboard the battleships Renown and Royal Sovereign as a signaller. Based in Gibraltar from October 1918 he was demobilised in February 1919, and was awarded the British War and Allied Victory medals.

Leonard married Grace Evelyn Chapman at Willesden in 1922.  In 1939, Leonard and Grace were living at 69 Kilburn High Road, Willesden with Grace’s parents, George and Eva Chapman.  Leonard was a railway clerk and Grace was a dining room manageress.  No children have been traced.

Leonard died in Sedgemoor, Somerset in 1982, aged 84 and Grace died later the same year in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.

Could Leonard be related to you?  Please get in touch if you can tell us more.