Leonard Hame Williams

A Rifleman with the 2/9th Battalion, Leonard died on 26th of September 1917 at the age of 32. 

Leonard was born at Lowestoft in 1885, a son of William James Williams and Susan Elliott Williams. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 17 April 1885. In 1891 his family lived at 110 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. Leonard attended The College, Beccles. By 1911 his family were living at Kilwimung, 46 Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, and Leonard worked as a clerk at a fishing business.

Leonard enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the 9th London Regiment, service number 6016. He arrived in France on 4 February 1917 to join the 2/9th Battalion London Regiment and served with A Company. In 1917 he was renumbered 392478.

On 26 September the 2/9th Battalion began an attack on German positions between St. Julien and Passchendaele, focussing on Aviatiak Farm. The attack soon became confused, but they managed to take 58 prisoners before the Germans made a counter-attack. One officer and five men of Leonard's Company are known to have been killed, and one officer and 22 men wounded. Four men of the Company, including Leonard, were missing and later it was concluded that Leonard had died 'on or since' 26 September 1917.