226195 Gnr. Joseph Oswald Leete British Army 38th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Burnham Road, North Creake, Fakenham, Norfolk (d.30th Nov 1917) Joseph Leete was born at Docking, Norfolk on the 28th of October 1893 and was baptised at North Creake, Norfolk on the 10th of December.
In the 1901 census he is resident in family home at 4 Room House, Burnham Road, North Creake, age 7. Also resident are his Parents Tempest & Minnie; Brothers: Ernest (17); Albert Edward (10); George William (2); Sisters: Rosanna (13); Daisy (5)
In 1911 he is resident in family home still at ‘4 Room House’, Burnham Road, North Creake. Aged 17 and an unmarried farm labourer. Also resident: Father: Tempest Simeon Leete, Farm Labourer (born in Thorpe, Norwich, in 1861. Married 28 years. 11 children, of which 7 were surviving in 1911. He died in 1933); Mother: Minnie Leete (nee Grimes; Born Fakenham, Norfolk 1864. She died in 1937); sister: Daisy (15); Brothers: George William (12); Frederick Arthur (8. He died in 1943.)
On the 16th of December 1915 38th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, embarked for Egypt, equipped with four 6†howitzers.
and arrived on the 29th Joseph Leete being with them. On the 30th of March 1916 38th Siege Battery arrived in France to join the BEF.
On the 30th of November 1917 the Germans counterattacked in the aftermath of the British offensive at Cambrai, pushing back the British infantry to the gun line. Unable to withdraw the guns in time, many were disabled by removing their breech blocks which were then buried. The crews joined the fight as infantry. Among these was 53193 Acting BQMS Tom Cordingley, from Irlam, Manchester, who helped hold back the advancing Germans with rifle fire. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the action. Joseph Leete was one of the artillerymen killed on that day. His body was not identified and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Cambrai and North Creake Memorials. He was aged 24.
|