Leslie Gunson (1890-1955)

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An ongoing project to commemorate and research the lives of those who appear on war memorials and rolls of honour in the local area, who served in the military, or whose deaths were linked to conflict.

Although he is listed in J. Margaret Stansfield's Roll of Honour as dying in the First World War, Leslie Gunson in fact survived.

Biography

Leslie Gunson was born on 1 May 1890, the son of woollen beamer William Gunson and his wife Alice (née Denton), and was baptised on 10 June 1890.

In 1901, the family was living at 99 Whitehead Road, Primrose Hill, Huddersfield. By 1911, they had moved, to 2 Primrose Street, Primrose Hill, Huddersfield, and 20-year-old Leslie was working as a teamer.

He enlisted into the Army on 12 December 1915 and called up for duty in May 1916. His service record notes that he was wounded in June 1917, suffered from trench foot in November 1917, and was wounded again in April 1918. He served in France from August 1916 to December 1918, and then in Italy from January 1919 to June 1919. His service record also notes that he had all his "teeth extracted whilst at Bulford Camp June 1919". He was transferred to being a reservist on 24 September 1919.

He married Edith Smithurst in 1920. However, it seems he may have been in an earlier relationship with Edith as their daughter, Mary, was born on 12 October 1915.

At the time of the 1939 Register, the family was living at 92 Whitehead Road, Primrose Hill and Leslie was working as a general labourer. Their daughter, Mary, was a teazle cutter.

Leslie Gunson died in 1955, aged 65.

Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922

The following extract is from Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922 (2014) by J. Margaret Stansfield:

GUNSON, LESLIE. Private. No 28642. Northumberland Fusiliers. Born Huddersfield. Lived 2 Primrose Street, Primrose Hill, Huddersfield. Killed in action 16.9.1916.

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