Leslie Lemon

Leslie Lemon was born on 18th March 1895 at Westwood, the son of James and Sarah Ann Lemon (formerly Merry, née Stallard). His father James was born on 12 October 1849 at Bridge Gate, Derby, the son of James and Mercy Lemon, and baptised in Derby on 5 December 1853. James (20) married Rosetta Adkinson or Atkinson (19) at Derby All Saints on 26 June 1869. Rosetta, also known as Rose, was the daughter of Joseph Adkinson and born in Derby, probably in 1852 (reg. 1853 J/F/M Derby). James and Rosetta had a son Edward James, also known as James, who was born in 1871 and baptised at Derby St Alkmund on 13 April 1871. In 1871 the family was living at Bridge Gate Court Derby. By 1881 James was living in Selston with his son Edward James and his family by Sarah Ann Merry. His wife Rose Lemon, a washerwoman, may have been living on Wright Street, Derby, in the parish of St Alkmund, with her children Elizabeth (7) and Henry (5) both surname Lemon. Leslie's mother Sarah Ann Stallard was born in Birmingham in 1854, the daughter of Alfred Stallard. She married Charles Merry, the son of Charles and Ann Merry, at the parish church of Ironville, Derbyshire, on 3 August 1874. They had a daughter, Alice, in 1875 (A/M/J Belper). Charles died the same year aged 21 and was buried in Ironville churchyard on 8 August 1875. James Lemon and Sarah Ann Merry did not marry until 3 January 1925 (J/F/M Derby Register Office) when they were both in their seventies. However, they lived together as man and wife, probably from at least 1877 when their first child was born, and were described as husband and wife on civil records. Sarah's daughter by her first marriage, Alice Merry, was known by the surname Lemon. James and Sarah had ten children of whom two died in infancy: Charles Alfred b. 1877; William Henry b. 1879; Sarah Ann b. 1881 (reg. J/F/M); Arthur Ernest b. 1882; Horace b 1884 (A/M/J) bap. 1884 Codnor, Derbyshire, d. 1884 (A/M/J) and his twin Sarah Elizabeth b. 1884 (A/M/J) bap. Codnor 1884; Horace b. 1887 (O/N/D) bap. Codnor 22 January 1888 d. 1888 (O/N/D) and his twin Thirza b. 4 November 1887 bap. Wesleyan Methodist Codnor 22 January 1888; Percy b. 1892 and Leslie b. 1895. All the registrations were in the Basford registration district. In 1881 James and Sarah were living in New Westwood, Selston, with the children of their first marriages, Edward (10) and Alice (6), and their three children Charles (4), William (2) and Sarah A. (under one year). The family had moved to Stone Row, Selston, by 1891. Edward and Alice were still living at home together with their half-brothers and sisters, Charles, William, Sarah A., Arthur (9), Sarah E. (7) and Thirza (3). Two sons, both named Horace, had died in 1884 and 1888 respectively. Percy and Lesley were born before the 1911 Census when the family was still living in Selston. James' son, Arthur Ernest, completed the census form on behalf of his father and included the information that his parents had been married for 34 years (dating back to the birth of their first child Charles) and had had 12 children of whom two had died, This number included the child each had had in their first marriages and their two sons who had died. Only four of the surviving ten children were in the home on the night of the census: William a bricklayer, Thirza a domestic servant and Percy and Leslie who were both clerks. At least four of their children were married, Charles Alfred to Mary Matilda Green in 1902, Sarah Ann i 1902, Sarah Elizabeth to Walter Andrews in 1904 and Arthur Ernest to Tetty Clementine Williamson in 1907, while William was to marry later in 1911. Leslie's father James of New Westwood died on 9 July 1929; Administration of his Will was awarded to his sons William Henry, a bricklayer, and Arthur Ernest, a grocer. His mother Sarah Ann was recorded in the home of her married daughter Thirza Sumner in Ealand, Lincolnshire, when the 1939 Register of England & Wales was compiled. However, she had returned to New Westwood by the time of her death on 19 April 1942. Administration of her Will was awarded to William Henry and Arthur Ernest. James and Sarah Ann were buried in St Mary's churchyard, Jacksdale, with their eldest son, Charles Alfred, who had died on 14 February 1925. According to a report of Leslie's death in the local newspaper in 1917, his brother Percy was also serving in the army in France. There are two military records for a Percy Lemon: 79564 Sergeant Royal Garrison Artillery and 147446 Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery. Neither served in theatre before 1916.

Lesley attended St Mary's church, Jacksdale, where he was a Sunday School teacher. He was employed at the Pye Hill Pipe Works of Messrs. James Oakes & Co.

Enlisted Derby

Private Leslie Lemon enlisted on 11th March 1916 at Derby and served with the 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He landed in France on 9th July 1916. Lesliewas killed in action during the Battle of Arras on 9th April 1917 and is buried in Roclincourt Valley Cemetery (Sp. Mem. A.2). He qualifieid for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Roclincourt Valley Cemetery (extract): 'Roclincourt was just within the Allied lines before the Battle of Arras in 1917 and it was from here that the 51st (Highland) and 34th Divisions advanced on 9 April 1917. The 1st Canadian Division attacked further north, across the Lens road. Roclincourt Valley Cemetery (originally called Roclincourt Forward Cemetery No.2) was begun after 9 April 1917 by the units which fought on that day. It was used until the following August when it contained the graves of 94 soldiers, of whom 40 belonged to the 51st Division. These form Plot I, Rows A to E and part of Row F. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves, almost all of April 1917 and mostly from the 34th and 51st Divisions, were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from certain smaller cemeteries [including] King Crater Cemetery Roclincourt. A mine crater, it contained 99 burials in five big graves, made by the 34th Division in the middle of April 1917, all dating from 9 April. All but two belonged to the Tyneside Brigades of the Northumberland Fusiliers. … The cemetery now contains 518 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 83 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to four casualties known, or believed, to be buried among them. ' (www.cwgc.org). Leslie is commemorated on one of the special memorials.

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Their glory shall not be blotted out' Report published in the Ripley and Heanor News published on 6th July 1917:- “Official notification has been received of the death in action of Pte. Leslie Lemon, Northumberland Fusiliers, a native of New Westwood. The deceased soldier was well known in Jacksdale district, and prior to enlistment was employed at the Pye Hill Pipe Works of Messrs. James Oakes & Co. He enlisted in March of last year and went to France in July following. “Pte. Lemon, who was 22 years of age, was a consistent Sunday School teacher at St. Mary's Church, Westwood. He was one of two brothers who have joined the Army, his brother Percy being in France at the present time.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father James was his legatee. Probate: Lemon James of New Westwood Jacksdale Nottinghamshire died 9 July 1929 at Nottingham General Hospital Nottingham Administration (with Will) Llandudno 14 June to William Henry Lemon bricklayer and Arthur Ernest Lemon grocer. Effects £283. Probate: Lemon Sarah Ann of New Westwood Selston Nottinghamshire widow died 19 April 1942 at Nottingham-road Hill Top Eastwood Nottinghamshire Probate Llandudno 1 March to William Henry Lemon bricklayer and Arthur Ernest Lemon grocer. Effects £313 2s.