David Startin

Address was 20 Almeys Lane Earl Shilton, son of Freeman and Annie Gilliver. When he joined the Army he declared he had previously served in The a Royal Navy. When he joined the Army he was 5 foot 3 3/4. He was previously a clicker in the Boot and Shoe industry. Leonard was posted missing in September 1916; his mother hung on to hope for years, on the basis that her letters and parcels had not been returned. In one letter, she writes that she is "very very anxious" and puts forward the proposal that "my poor boy" had taken off his identity disc just before a barrage of shells, and as he was suffering from shell shock no one would know who he was. She had heard from an unnamed source that Leonard had been taken prisoner. Initially she said he was taken by Saxons, and then later she said it was men "who wore red hats," Such as the Turks. Her letters are sad, but she got little sympathy. On the third letter to officials is inscribed "we have replied about these things twice before." and the reply was an instruction to direct her letters elsewhere. Leonard was officially declared dead on 3 April 1919. There is little more upsetting than a mother's grief : "so I hope this note of mine will be able to help you find my dear son, and could you give me any other idea of what to do." A mother's grief is never lessened.

Leonard Gilliver died on September 18, 1916, and was buried at Thiepval Memorial Pier And Face 9 D 9 C 13 C And 12 C. in France. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Leonard Gilliver.