Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Date Information
30/07/2021 The 1911 census records that James no longer lived with the family in Brackaville, Tullyniskane, Tyrone. His father was a stone mason. The rest of the family worked in the mill.
30/07/2021
30/07/2021 Last Will and Testament of Sapper James Joseph Leonard dated 22nd July 1915:
30/07/2021
30/07/2021 In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Sarah Ann Leonard, of Brackaville, Coalisland, County Tyrone Ireland. Sapper James Joseph Leonard. 36704 Royal Engineers.
30/07/2021 In his will, James left all to his mother, Sarah Ann Leonard, who was living at Brackaville, Coalisland.
30/07/2021 James Joseph Leonard was a son of James and Sarah Ann Leonard, nee Quinn.
30/07/2021 James Leonard was born on 23rd September 1884 in Brackaville, Coalisland. He was one of at least nine children.
30/07/2021 The 1901 census shows 15 year old James to be working as a mill worker. He was living with the family at Brackaville, Tullyniskane, Tyrone. His father was a brick layer.
30/07/2021 The CWGC record Sapper James Joseph Leonard as the son of James and Sarah A Leonard of Brackaville, Coalisland, County Tyrone.
30/07/2021 James Leonard enlisted in Tuam, County Galway, where he was working.
30/07/2021 Sapper James Joseph Leonard arrived in France with Royal Engineers on 29th September 1915.
30/07/2021 Sapper James Joseph Leonard was serving with the 157th Field Company of the Royal Engineers when he died in France on 12th October 1918.
30/07/2021 Sapper Leonard was killed at the Heute Deűle Canal along with Sapper Henry Dunnington (Service No 139880), one month before the end of the war.
30/07/2021 The war diary shows that in October 1918 the Company were based in Auchy constructing pontoons for crossing the Heute Deűle Canal and attempting to stop a leak or a 'cut' in the canal bank. The diary for 13 October records: ‘No. 3 (Section) in canal cut. Sappers Leonard and Dunnington killed and the stopping of the leak was not successful.’
30/07/2021 Sapper James Joseph Leonard is buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery in France.
30/07/2021 His inscription reads: NO KING OR SAINT HAD TOMB SO PROUD AS HE WHOSE FLAG BECOMES HIS SHROUD. The quote comes from the Irish poet Thomas Osborne Davis’ poem ‘Nationality’.
30/07/2021 Sapper James Joseph Leonard is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
30/07/2021 Known family: James Leonard, Sarah Ann Leonard, John Leonard (born about 1881), Lizzie Leonard (born about 1883), James Joseph Leonard (born 23rd September 1884), Patrick Leonard (born about 1888), Elizabeth Leonard (born about 1889), Agnes Leonard (born 27th December 1889), Annie Leonard (born about 1891), Dannie Leonard (born about 1893), Francis Leonard (born 20th May 1897).
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