Also Served: James Leather - James LEATHER
1 Rowson Street Private 22416, Coldstream Guards 
Picture kindly supplied by the Leather family
James Leather attested as Private 22416 to the Coldstream Guards in Prescot on 20th December 1915. His attestation was witnessed by William Roughsedge and the certifying magistrate was Councillor W.J. Lucas.
James was 22 years old and single. Working as a Collier at Cronton Colliery, he lived at 1, Rowson Street, Prescot. His next of kin was listed as his mother Margaret Leather of the same address. At his initial medical inspection, James was recorded as 5 foot 7 inches tall with a 37 inch chest measurement.
He was immediately posted to the Army Reserve and was not then mobilised until 28th June 1917 when he was called to the Guards depot at Warrington then moved to Caterham. On 31st March 1918 he sailed from Southampton for France and was posted to the 1st Battalion, joining them at the Base Depot on 1st April 1918.
He was wounded in action on 26th May 1918 and appears to have remained out of the line for treatment until 29th August, finally rejoining the battalion on 14th September. On 27th September, he was again wounded, this time receiving a Gun Shot Wound to the left thigh. He was treated at 56 Casualty Clearing Station and No 18 General Hospital but as then evacuated to England for further treatment on 2nd October 1918, at which time he was also transferred to the 3rd Battalion. He was treated at a hospital in Halifax and was discharged on 11th November 1918, the day of the armistice.
James was ultimately discharged on 26th January 1919.
He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He died in Prescot in 1966, aged 72.Ref. No.:
|
