Pte. Leonard Johns, of Clovelly, left West Dyke Farm, where he had been living for four years, and put on his age in order to join Kitchener’s Army. He was wounded in his legs by shrapnel soon after his arrival in France, but in six weeks had recovered sufficiently to return to the trenches. Then a shell killed him and two comrades. In writing to the parents his officer said: “As his officer I cannot express how much I shall miss him from my section. He was always cheerful in the most adverse circumstances, and was willing to obey me and my sergeant’s orders at all times, and was liked by all of us. You have a great consolation in that he did his duty to the end and was a brave soldier.”

David Regan