Born in 1898 at Woodford, son of Joseph (Carman, later Borough Council Road Man) and Maria Skingsley. 1901: With his family at 5 Linn Terrace, Horn Lane, Woodford Green. 1911: A Scholar with his family at 11 Palmerston Villas, Walpole Road, South Woodford. He enlisted at Warley and served with the Essex Regiment.
On 21st march 1918 10 Essex came under bombardment by high explosive and gas shells in the area of Ly Fontaine at the beginning of the German Spring Offensive, or “The Battle of St Quentin”. At one point they were thinly stretched, covering a line of about two miles. At 21.50 the Battalion was ordered to withdraw westwards from their positions at 22.30, regroup at Jussy and then hold the line of the Crozat Canal. Having done so it became clear to the Battalion during continuing fighting on 22nd March 1918, that 53 Brigade consisted of little more than them!
At about 09.00 on 23rd March 1918 they were near Rouez Wood when it fell into German hands. 10 Essex formed a line along the road running north to south through Freires Wood and almost at once made contact with advancing German forces. An illustration shows “The Fight at the Keepers Cottage” at Rouez. By 12.00 the Germans had broken through to the right of 10 Essex, but a defence was organised and the position recovered.
By nightfall the Germans had again managed to break through and get behind the Battalion, who at 18.00 were instructed to fall back to Caumont. Later they were ordered to retreat further via Bethancourt to Caillouel.
At a later date it was found that the Germans had endorsed the cross markers over Essex graves with the words “Ein Tapfere Englander” - A Brave Englishman. It also emerged that at one stage three German Battalions had been depleted and forced back by the “unwavering defence” put up by 10 Essex.
During this frenetic action Leslie Skingsley was killed, and his remains were not recovered.
X/R: Lance Corporal Leonard Samuel Skingsley (Brother)
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Regimental History