Private Leonard Cobley

The son of Alfred & Ada, James Leonard Graham Cobley, born 1897, enlisted 3rd Leicestershire Regiment (Army Reserve) for 6 years, on 10th August 1914, service number 11479.

On 26th January 1915 he transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment and embarked Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, where he served until 9th November 1915. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 20th May 1915.

On 10th November 1915 he embarked Marseilles, disembarked Alexandria on 17th November. Six days later, 23rd November he embarked Port Suez to Basra, where he arrived on 8th December 1915. He was killed in action in the field on 20th February 1916.

Private Cobley was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal, and is commemorated on Panel 12 of the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Left: Medals awarded to Private Cobley.

Right: Private Cobley’s identity tag.

Follow this link to view Private Cobley’s Prayer Book and this link to view a transcription of entries.

The images of the medals and identity tag, together with the details of and from Private Cobley’s Prayer Book, were kindly supplied by Stuart Freer, Len’s grand nephew.