Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Leslie John Horwood (1142)

d.22/04/1944

Royal Artillery Gunner in WWII, died of tuberculosis aged 23

• Janice Boakes

Leslie John Horwood was born in Woughton on the Green, Buckinghamshire, on 27th March 1921, one of eight children of Albert Edward and Edith Jane Horwood (nee Jeffs).  Leslie’s father, Albert, had been born on the Rossway estate at Northchurch where his father was the gamekeeper. Albert also became a gamekeeper and worked at the Woughton House Estate, near Milton Keynes and it was at Woughton that Leslie was christened at on the Green on the 10th July 1921.

The family moved, via Surrey, to live at the Kennels on the Beechwood Estate near Markyate but by the early 1940s they had moved to Gardener’s Cottage, Beechwood Park where, perhaps unsurprisingly, Leslie was employed on the estate as a Gardener.

Leslie joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1938 but was invalided out in 1943, suffering from Tuberculosis. He sadly died, aged 23 years, on the 22nd April 1944 at the County Sanatorium, Ware Park, Ware.

It was reported in the Hemel Hempstead Gazette:

“Young Ex-Soldier’s Death

We regret to report the death of Mr L.J. Horwood, until recently a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Horwood of Beechwood Park, Markyate and brother of Mrs. W. Hunt of 47 Shrublands Avenue, Berkhamstead which occurred at Ware Sanatorium on Saturday, after an illness lasting 12 months. He was 23 years old. The funeral took place in Berkhamstead, conducted by the Rev.E.K. Mules at the Parish Church on Wednesday and the mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Horwood (mother and father), Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Cooke, Miss G. Horwood, L/Cpl. J. Horwood (sisters), Driver H. Horwood, Mr. D Horwood, Mr. K Horwood (brothers), Mr. H Cooke, Mr. W Hunt (brothers in law)Mrs. Fletcher, Miss M. Jeffs (aunts), Capt. J Newton (friend)

Floral tributes were sent by Mum, Dad, Sisters and Brothers; Grace, Bill and Nance; Baby Brian; Jabe, Em and Barbara; Aunt Kate and Eva ; Aunt Millie and Uncle Bill; Beat, Harold and Tony; Mrs. Cooke and Jessie; Rose Dolan; Mr and Mrs Bates and Frank; Sir Giles and Lady Sebright; Staff at Beechwood; Jack; J Hargraves ; Mr and Mrs Andrews; Mr and Mrs Snape.

The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and the funeral arrangements were carried out by the Cooperative Society.”   

Leslie was buried, on the 29th April 1944, in the Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted. He is remembered on the Flamstead War Memorial but is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission.

(With thanks to Leslie’s niece, Wendy Cooke, for information included above )