WW1 Casualty: Lieutenant (Quarter Master) Herbert Leonard Cleaver - Lieutenant (Quarter Master) Herbert Leonard Cleaver
| Unit/Regiment |
2nd/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
11/11/1914 |
Age at Death |
46 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
St Helens Cemetery
10 CE 79 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Husband of Frances Cleaver, of "Ormeau," Old Lane, Eccleston Park, Prescot |
| Census Details |
1871 Census -
Son of John and Sarah Cleaver, living in Leamington Hastings, Warwickshire
1881 Census -
The Cleaver family now lived in Warrington. John Cleaver, a 33 year old Railway Policeman, lived at 28, Elizabeth Street with his wife Sarah (33) and their 8 children; William (14), Herbert (11), Alfred (9), Sarah (8), Lucy (6), Mary Ann (4), Ada (2) and newborn Gertrude
1891 Census -
The Cleaver family still lived in Warrington, but Herbert was not with them, having joined the army by this time. At the same address as 1881, the family now has additional children Jesse (8), Ethel (5), Sidney (3) and Ethel (1).
1911 Census -
The Cleaver family were recorded living at the Drill Hall in Mill Street. Herbert, 42, was a Sergeant Major in the South Lancs. He and Frances had been married for 19 years and had 7 sons. Edward, Herbert, Alfred, Arthur, Frederick, Sidney and Walter. |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth registered Q4/1869, Rugby, Vol 6d, Page 458
Death registered Q4/1914, Fylde, Vol 8e, Page 814 |
| Research Ref. No. |
P316 |
Service DetailsHerbert Cleaver originally attested into the South Lancashire Regiment at Warrington on 13th July 1887 aged 18 years and 1 month. He recorded that he worked as a labourer.
The 2/5th Battalion was officially constituted as a Second Line battalion of the regiment on 23rd September 1914 in Liverpool.
The “St Helens Reporter” of November 6th, 1914 carried the following story:-
“It has been announced that the reserve battalion of the 5th South Lancashires is to be commanded by Major Bates, transferred from the 5th. Several of the officers of this new battalion are well known locally. Herbert Cleaver, a respected Boer War veteran who had fought at Spion Kop, has been promoted from Sgt Maj in the 5th Battalion to 2nd Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the new battalion.
It is suggested that the battalion will winter at the popular holiday resort of Blackpool.”
Then on Friday 13th November, it was further reported,
“South Lancs deaths:
Lieut (QM) Herbert Leonard Cleaver dies whilst with the 2/5 Battalion at Blackpool aged 46. He was the husband of Frances Cleaver, of "Ormeau," Old Lane, Eccleston Park St Helens.
Lieutenant Cleaver had been recently commissioned and appointed to the post of Quartermaster with the Reserve Battalion of the 5th South Lancs. He had been with the 5th Battalion for about ten years, from during its years as the 2nd Volunteer Battalion (South Lancs Regiment) before the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908.”
Herbert Cleaver's death announced in the Manchester Evening News, 11th December 1914
It was also reported that It is also reported that recruitment for the Reserve Battalion has increased significantly since it was announced to be training in Blackpool. The unit is now at full strength.
On Tuesday 17th November, the local press report “The funeral of Lt(QM) Herbert Cleaver, the Boer War veteran who died recently. There is a huge list of attendees, including many members of his family, also in khaki: Sgt Edward Cleaver (WL Div Engineers), L/Cpls Herbert and Alfred Cleaver and Bugler Arthur Cleaver (5th SLR), and others. Floral tributes included wreaths from the Sergeants of 1/5 and 2/5 SLR.”
It is interesting to note that on Herbert Cleaver’s Medal Index Card, shown below, he has no medal entitlement due to the fact that he did not see overseas service.
Herbert Cleaver’s Medal Index Card shows his promotion from Sergeant to Second Lieutenant.
Herbert Cleaver was buried in the family grave at St Helens Cemetery on 15th November 1914. The pictures below show his grave.
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