Leslie Louis Little

Leslie Louis Little
Rank 
Private
Regiment 
Suffolk Regiment
Date of death 
31 October 1918
Age of death 
19
Address 
48 High Road
Ilford
RED
IG1 3DF
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Photo source 
War Memorial Gazette
Biography 

Leslie Louis Little was born in 1899. His father, Louis was a glass cutter. Leslie had an older sister, Vanda. In 1911, the Little family were living at 48 High Road, Ilford.

When Leslie left Cleveland Road School aged 15, he went to work at Woolwich Arsenal and was employed in the hazardous job of pressing gun powder pellets. When he was old enough he enlisted with the Essex Yeomanry, working with horses in Sevenoaks, Kent. He later transferred to the Cycle Corps where, while training with the infantry, he proved to be an excellent shot.

Leslie served in Ireland and France when he transferred to the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment where he trained in anti-aircraft gunnery and was posted for a while at Battalion H.Q. He was severely wounded while in front line trenches near Cambrai in his role of Lewis Gunner on 29th October 1918 and died of his wounds eleven days before the Armistice, on 31st October 1918.

Louis was buried at Awoingt British Cemetery, France. At the time of his death, his parents were living at 114 Empress Avenue in Ilford.

Research by Patrick O’Mara and Redbridge Museum

Sources:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Ancestry.com