Prescot Roll of Honour

Picture kindly provided by the Leather family

Service Details

Walter was born in 1896, the youngest of at least 9 children to Robert Leather and his wife Margaret (nee Bromilow). He was probably born in Rowson Street No. 1 or No. 4 .

Robert and Margaret lived at 18 Moss Street according to the 1881 census and by the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to 4 Rowson Street, just off St Helens Road, a few streets away from Moss Street. Papers regarding the death of Walter sent in 1920 shows the family still at 1 Rowson Street.

The records state that he joined the Cheshire Regiment in Warrington on the 2nd March 1917 and sailed from Southampton straight away. He was 20 years old, height 5 feet 3 1/2 inches and weighed 115 lbs and in need of dental treatment. His trade was a Clerk

Before serving with the Cheshires, he served as Private 40278 with the South Lancashire Regiment though he did not go overseas with them.

The 13th battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, unofficially known as the 'Wirral Battalion', was originally raised at Port Sunlight on 1st September 1914. They moved across the UK including Chester, Bournemouth and Aldershot, before embarking for France in September 1915.

Walter Leather joined the Battalion on 9th July 1917 as they prepared for the third battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele.

The battle was launched on 31 July and some initial success occurred early on the first day, but the attack quickly become stalled in the rain and mud. Small gains were been made but, until 10 August, the 13th Cheshires were still in reserve.

The Germans still occupied high ground on the Westhoek Ridge which gave them observation to the east and south east. The Cheshires and the other three battalions of 74th Brigade were to attack the Ridge. Other Brigades would attack nearby positions. By 3.25am on 13th August, the troops were all in their assembly trenches. The attack would be on a 2000 yard front, with the Cheshires on the right, next to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, the 9th North Lancashires and, on the left, the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers.

It must have been a particularly miserable time for the troops as it had rained all day making the ground difficult to even walk over. For many, this would be their first time in action. Approximately 50% of the Battalion strength was made up of new recruits who had joined the unit since June. But, at 4.25am, the whistles blew and the Cheshires left the protection of the trench, in four waves. At the same time, British artillery opened fire on the enemy front line trench. The first wave was held up by a heavily fortified post but this was captured by a vigorous assault supported by the use of Stokes Mortars. The troops then pressed on to their objective without much further difficulty.

The fourth wave was to push through to a forward position to cover the consolidation of the captured German front line. It was supposed to then withdraw. However, it was caught by heavy shell fire and only 15 men reached the designated position making the provision of covering fire all but impossible.

To the right of the Cheshires' position, troops had initially captured Glencorse Wood, but were forced out again by a strong counter-attack. The Germans were now able to open machine gun and sniper fire on the Cheshires as well as the shelling which had been continual. German counter -attacks were made throughout the day and night but these were repulsed by machine gun fire. The Regimental History records that "Very fine work was done by the machine guns supporting the 13th Cheshires. Some of them were in action for 30 hours, up to their waists in water, enduring heavy shelling and sniping."

The Battalion had 72 killed and almost 300 wounded in the single day of fighting. Amongst those was Walter Leather. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate.


The Parish Magazine of 26th September 1917 reported 'To the long list of names of those of our gallant men who have given their lives for the Empire must now be added the following'. Included in the list is 'Pte. Walter Leather, 21, of the Cheshires. Killed in Action 10th August 1917, of 1, Rowson Street'.

The Register of Soldiers Effects, shown below, records Walter's mother, Margaret, as his sole legatee

Walter Leather's Medal Index Card shows his service with both the South Lancashire Regiment and the Cheshire Regiment

Walter Leather's inscription on the Menin Gate.