253287 Gnr. Leonard Edward Thomas Looseley British Army 211th Seige Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Peckham My grandfather, Leonard Looseley, eventually known as Pop by both of his sons, all his grandchildren, and even his wife Elsie, joined the Army Reserve in December 1915 and was posted as a gunner in April 1917.
From August that year until his transfer back to the Reserve in October 1919, he was in France and Belgium.
He was various Siege Batteries, 417th, 142nd, 288th, and finally as a sergeant with the 211th.
I know that by 1919 he was guarding prisoners. I have several pieces of memorabilia with inscriptions (sometimes misspelt) by prisoners, indicating Souvenir of Charleroi 1919. He was wounded twice, both times, it would seem, accidentally, possibly from the recoil of the 6" Howitzers he worked with.
In later life, a whole wall of his living room was shelved with various artefacts from the war. I have a brass shell case of his which now serves as my umbrella stand. But I can't recall ever being told stories of his experiences, other than guarding the prisoners in Belgium.
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