LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWII
Sapper Leonard Victor Poulter
210 Field Coy. Royal Engineers
Town Memorial World War II
LEONARD VICTOR POULTER
Service Number: 1879520
Royal Engineers
210 Field Coy.
Died 14 November 1942
Age 23 years old
Buried or commemorated at
EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY
Coll. grave XXVII. F. 23-26.
Egypt
Additional Info
Son of James K. and Nellie Poulter, of Leatherhead, Surrey.
Personal Inscription
R.I.P.
Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 8 May 1943
LEATHERHEAD PARENTS’ LOSS
Mr. and Mrs. J. Poulter, of 3, Gravel
Hill, Leatherhead. have been notified that their son, Sapper Leonard
Victor Poulter, reported missing in the Middle East on November 14th,
must now be assumed to have lost his life. Sapper Poulter, who was 23
years of age, joined the Royal Engineers soon after the outbreak of war,
went to France, and was evacuated from Dunkirk. He went overseas again a
year ago. He was educated at Leatherhead Central Schools, and was a
carpenter by trade.
This is the second loss his parents have sustained, as their youngest son, Richard Poulter, aged 18, who was serving on H.M.S. Royal Oak, did not survive the ship’s loss on October 14th, 1939.
This is the second loss his parents have sustained, as their youngest son, Richard Poulter, aged 18, who was serving on H.M.S. Royal Oak, did not survive the ship’s loss on October 14th, 1939.
The relevant file in the National Archive is WO 169/5294 1942 May-Dec. Royal Engineers: 210 Field Company (Fd Coy RE) is closed until 2049.
The date of Leonard's death, 11 November 1942, was a few days after the end of the Second Battle of Alamein. He is in a 'collective grave' with a Corporal, a Driver and five fellow Sappers, all from 210 Field Company. The CWGC records show that they were originally buried at site NZGRU/439 and reburied at the El Alamein War Cemetery on 27 August 1943. Collective graves were for those who could not be identified for burial in individual graves.
His life
Leonard Poulter's birth was registered at Epsom in July 1919.His father was James Kinchen Poulter born 16 July 1876 in Basingstoke, Hampshire. He was a son of Thomas Poulter (1847-1926), an Engine Driver (agricultural work), and Martha Ann Wild (1847-1923). He died on 26 Oct 1945.
His mother was Nellie Rebecca Watts born 17 April 1878, in Dunsfold, Surrey. She was a daughter of John Watts Pickess (1838-1910), a Coach Smith, and Sarah Dickerson (1848-1893). She died on 22 May 1968.
They were married on 29 July 1899 at the parish church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Surrey
Leonard's siblings were Nellie Victoria (1901-1978), Amelia b 1904, Thomas (1909-1965), Evelyn b 1910, James George (1912-1998), Richard (1923-1939) and Kitty Mary (1924-1999).
As reported above he was educated at Leatherhead Central School and a carpenter by trade.
James Poulter's brother, John Poulter is also named on Leatherhead War Memorial - he died as a PoW in Germany in WW1.
After the war
The Electoral Registers show that his widowed mother Nellie appears to have continued living at 3, Gravel Hill, Leatherhead.Leonard Poulter is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, his headstone, and any recollections of him
last updated 29 Jul 20: 19 Nov 20